Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL694
2009-04-30 07:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; April 30, 2009
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SEOUL 000694
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; April 30, 2009
TOP HEADLINES
--------------
Chosun Ilbo
ROK's First "Presumed" Swine Flu Patient Acted "Wisely;" Feeling Flu
Symptoms, She Isolated Herself at Home and Reported Her Illness to
Local Health Center
JoongAng Ilbo, Dong-a Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, Segye Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun,
All TVs
Ruling GNP Suffers Crushing Defeat in By-Elections; GNP Fails to
Secure Even a Single Seat in Five Legislative Seats Up for Grabs
Hankyoreh Shinmun
GNP's Crushing Defeat a Warning against Lee Myung-bak
Administration's "Go-it-Alone" Approach
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
--------------
ROK health authorities said yesterday that 16 more people are
suspected of having contracted swine flu following the first
"presumed" case detected in a patient who returned from a trip to
Mexico. (All)
The Minister for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Chang
Tae-pyong, said during an April 29 press meeting that the ROKG has
no plan to halt imports of pork from North AMERICA because there is
strong scientific evidence that pork is not a carrier of influenza.
(Hankyoreh, Seoul)
U.S. Ambassador to the ROK Kathleen Stephens yesterday opened Habib
House, the Seoul residence of the U.S. Ambassador, to the press to
introduce new art pieces on display under the State Department's Art
in Embassies Program. (Chosun, JoongAng, Maeil Kyungje)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
--------------
North Korea's Foreign Ministry threatened yesterday to conduct
nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests unless the UN
Security Council (UNSC) withdraws and apologizes for its recent
sanctions on the North. (All)
North Korea also warned that it will build a light-water nuclear
reactor and begin to develop nuclear fuel technology. (All)
Given that enriched uranium produces nuclear fuel for a light-water
reactor, this statement might indicate that North Korea will embark
on a uranium enrichment program. (Chosun, Hankook)
The ROKG responded by warning that all responsibility for the
[North's] worsening international situation lies completely with
North Korea. The ROKG urged the North to stop taking actions that
threaten international peace, to abide by the UN Security Council
resolutions and [presidential] statement, and to return to the
Six-Party Talks. (Hankook)
Experts speculated that North Korea could conduct a second nuclear
test at any time because of the country's presumed possession of
several nuclear warheads. (Chosun)
MEDIA ANALYSIS
--------------
-North Korea
--------------
The ROK media gave play to North Korea's April 29 threat to conduct
nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests unless
the UN Security Council (UNSC) withdraws and apologizes for its
recent sanctions on the North.
The ROK media also noted the communist state's statement that it
SEOUL 00000694 002 OF 002
will build a light-water nuclear reactor and begin to develop
nuclear fuel technology. The ROK media interpreted this statement
to mean that North Korea will embark on a uranium enrichment
program, as enriched uranium produces nuclear fuel for a light-water
reactor.
According to media reports, the ROKG responded by warning that all
responsibility for the worsening international situation lies
completely with North Korea. The ROKG was further quoted as
stating: "We urge North Korea to stop taking actions that threaten
international peace, to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions
and [presidential] statement, and to return to the Six-Party
Talks."
Conservative Chosun Ilbo analyzed that North Korea could conduct a
second nuclear test at any time because it is known to have several
nuclear warheads. Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo viewed this North
Korean move as aimed at "making its presence felt" in the face of
Washington's strategy of neglect [towards the North.]
-Swine Flu
--------------
Citing ROK health authorities, the ROK media reported that 16 more
people are suspected of having contracted swine flu following the
first "presumed" case detected in a patent who returned from a trip
to Mexico.
Most ROK media quoted the Minister for Food, Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries during an April 29 press meeting that the ROKG has no
plan to halt imports of pork from North AMERICA because there is
strong scientific evidence that pork is not a carrier of influenza.
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo commented in its editorial: "It is
preposterous to avoid eating pork, because eating pork has nothing
to do with swine flu. When the mad cow disease scare raged in the
country, innocent cattle farmers were hard hit by the sharp decline
in beef consumption. With the economy already in bad shape, we
cannot afford to again let unfounded prejudice damage pig farmers
and pork-related industries."
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo, in an article entitled "Swine Flu Feared
to Damage Already Battered World Economy," noted each country's
efforts to impose travel restrictions to North AMERICA and to ban
imports of pork from the region, while raising the possibility of
diplomatic conflicts developing between countries.
STEPHENS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; April 30, 2009
TOP HEADLINES
--------------
Chosun Ilbo
ROK's First "Presumed" Swine Flu Patient Acted "Wisely;" Feeling Flu
Symptoms, She Isolated Herself at Home and Reported Her Illness to
Local Health Center
JoongAng Ilbo, Dong-a Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, Segye Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun,
All TVs
Ruling GNP Suffers Crushing Defeat in By-Elections; GNP Fails to
Secure Even a Single Seat in Five Legislative Seats Up for Grabs
Hankyoreh Shinmun
GNP's Crushing Defeat a Warning against Lee Myung-bak
Administration's "Go-it-Alone" Approach
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
--------------
ROK health authorities said yesterday that 16 more people are
suspected of having contracted swine flu following the first
"presumed" case detected in a patient who returned from a trip to
Mexico. (All)
The Minister for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Chang
Tae-pyong, said during an April 29 press meeting that the ROKG has
no plan to halt imports of pork from North AMERICA because there is
strong scientific evidence that pork is not a carrier of influenza.
(Hankyoreh, Seoul)
U.S. Ambassador to the ROK Kathleen Stephens yesterday opened Habib
House, the Seoul residence of the U.S. Ambassador, to the press to
introduce new art pieces on display under the State Department's Art
in Embassies Program. (Chosun, JoongAng, Maeil Kyungje)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
--------------
North Korea's Foreign Ministry threatened yesterday to conduct
nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests unless the UN
Security Council (UNSC) withdraws and apologizes for its recent
sanctions on the North. (All)
North Korea also warned that it will build a light-water nuclear
reactor and begin to develop nuclear fuel technology. (All)
Given that enriched uranium produces nuclear fuel for a light-water
reactor, this statement might indicate that North Korea will embark
on a uranium enrichment program. (Chosun, Hankook)
The ROKG responded by warning that all responsibility for the
[North's] worsening international situation lies completely with
North Korea. The ROKG urged the North to stop taking actions that
threaten international peace, to abide by the UN Security Council
resolutions and [presidential] statement, and to return to the
Six-Party Talks. (Hankook)
Experts speculated that North Korea could conduct a second nuclear
test at any time because of the country's presumed possession of
several nuclear warheads. (Chosun)
MEDIA ANALYSIS
--------------
-North Korea
--------------
The ROK media gave play to North Korea's April 29 threat to conduct
nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests unless
the UN Security Council (UNSC) withdraws and apologizes for its
recent sanctions on the North.
The ROK media also noted the communist state's statement that it
SEOUL 00000694 002 OF 002
will build a light-water nuclear reactor and begin to develop
nuclear fuel technology. The ROK media interpreted this statement
to mean that North Korea will embark on a uranium enrichment
program, as enriched uranium produces nuclear fuel for a light-water
reactor.
According to media reports, the ROKG responded by warning that all
responsibility for the worsening international situation lies
completely with North Korea. The ROKG was further quoted as
stating: "We urge North Korea to stop taking actions that threaten
international peace, to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions
and [presidential] statement, and to return to the Six-Party
Talks."
Conservative Chosun Ilbo analyzed that North Korea could conduct a
second nuclear test at any time because it is known to have several
nuclear warheads. Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo viewed this North
Korean move as aimed at "making its presence felt" in the face of
Washington's strategy of neglect [towards the North.]
-Swine Flu
--------------
Citing ROK health authorities, the ROK media reported that 16 more
people are suspected of having contracted swine flu following the
first "presumed" case detected in a patent who returned from a trip
to Mexico.
Most ROK media quoted the Minister for Food, Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries during an April 29 press meeting that the ROKG has no
plan to halt imports of pork from North AMERICA because there is
strong scientific evidence that pork is not a carrier of influenza.
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo commented in its editorial: "It is
preposterous to avoid eating pork, because eating pork has nothing
to do with swine flu. When the mad cow disease scare raged in the
country, innocent cattle farmers were hard hit by the sharp decline
in beef consumption. With the economy already in bad shape, we
cannot afford to again let unfounded prejudice damage pig farmers
and pork-related industries."
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo, in an article entitled "Swine Flu Feared
to Damage Already Battered World Economy," noted each country's
efforts to impose travel restrictions to North AMERICA and to ban
imports of pork from the region, while raising the possibility of
diplomatic conflicts developing between countries.
STEPHENS