Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL646
2009-04-21 06:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
how-toVZCZCXRO4782 RR RUEHGH DE RUEHUL #0646 1110643 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 210643Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4092 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 8467 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5829 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 9604 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5737 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 0608 RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 4266 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 3272 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 6473 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0887 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2227 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1296 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1910
UNCLAS SEOUL 000646
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
"HANDSHAKE BETWEEN OBAMA AND CHAVEZ, AND NORTH KOREA..."
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized (04/21): "A mood for
dialogue is becoming ripe throughout the world in line with Obama's
doctrine, 'we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your
fist.' The only exception, however, is North Korea. Since his
inauguration, President Obama has sent a message of reconciliation
to North Korea in several ways, only to face the North's long-range
rocket launch and its expulsion of IAEA monitors and a State
Department representative. North Korea may have intended to boost
its standing on the U.S. list of diplomatic priorities and to
increase its bargaining power, but this is clearly a miscalculation.
How can talks and negotiations occur if one side slaps the other in
the face when the other extends his hand?"
"CUES FOR SOUTH KOREA FROM OBAMA'S SMART DIPLOMACY"
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized (04/21): "It is too
early to say for certain that this new U.S. diplomatic strategy will
produce long-term results. However, it is crystal clear that the
Obama Administration's strategy of frankly admitting past U.S.
mistakes while pursuing mutual prosperity and cooperation is giving
the world hope for a new era, one based on dialogue rather than a
monologue. The Korean Peninsula should not isolate itself in this
new era of dialogue. North Korea must promptly come to the
negotiation table. The ROK, for its part, must work to put the
conditions to make that possible in place. We, too, need to
consider adopting this kind of smart diplomacy."
STEPHENS