Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL704
2009-05-04 05:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
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UNCLAS SEOUL 000704
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
East Asia and Pacific: DPRK
--------------
"CAN PRESSURE AND NEGLECT HELP KEEP NORTH KOREAN IN CHECK?"
Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized (05/04): "The outline of the
Obama Administration's North Korea policy is becoming clearer. The
North recently threatened to conduct another nuclear and
intercontinental ballistic missile tests and to renew its
clandestine uranium enrichment program. The U.S. Administration,
however, declined to respond directly but countered with UN
sanctions. It is a tactic of 'pressure and neglect.' The [U.S.]
choice is understandable. U.S.-North Korea dialogue and the
Six-Party Talks have been criticized for not punishing but rewarding
the North's provocations, while Pyongyang has continued to foster
its nuclear and missile capabilities. It is time to break this
vicious cycle. ... The ROKG should first talk to the U.S. about
how to handle situations when the North exacerbates the crisis
through provocations such as an additional nuclear test, rather than
simply going along with the 'pressure and neglect' tactic. If the
Six-Party Talks no longer function properly, the ROK and the U.S.
should discuss if there is any other alternative to the multilateral
talks."
"THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD MAKE IT CLEAR THAT NO AID WILL
BE POSSIBLE IF NORTH KOREA REJECTS THE SIX-PARTY TALKS"
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo editorialized (05/04): "Observers say that
Secretary Clinton's clear response is attributable to the lesson
learned from 20 years of negotiations with North Korea. Although
the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush Administrations placated the
North with concessions in response to its bad behavior, they failed
to prevent the North from crossing the nuclear threshold in the end.
... This lesson the U.S. has learned should also apply to the ROK,
China, Japan and Russia. ... If the five nations of the Six-Party
Talks show no response while North Korea resumes reprocessing spent
fuel rods -- violating the spirit of the Six-Party Talks (which
began in August 2003),the February 13 and the October 3 Agreements
of 2007 -- it would mean that those five nations are avoiding their
obligations. If the five parties back down again, no one will have
any expectation that the Six-Party Talks can resume, never mind
resolving the North Korean nuclear issue. The ROK, China, Japan and
Russia should actively follow the position of the U.S. that should
the North reject the [Six-Party] Talks, that they will provide no
aid. If the five nations drag their feet, they will once again be
taken in by the North."
STANTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
East Asia and Pacific: DPRK
--------------
"CAN PRESSURE AND NEGLECT HELP KEEP NORTH KOREAN IN CHECK?"
Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized (05/04): "The outline of the
Obama Administration's North Korea policy is becoming clearer. The
North recently threatened to conduct another nuclear and
intercontinental ballistic missile tests and to renew its
clandestine uranium enrichment program. The U.S. Administration,
however, declined to respond directly but countered with UN
sanctions. It is a tactic of 'pressure and neglect.' The [U.S.]
choice is understandable. U.S.-North Korea dialogue and the
Six-Party Talks have been criticized for not punishing but rewarding
the North's provocations, while Pyongyang has continued to foster
its nuclear and missile capabilities. It is time to break this
vicious cycle. ... The ROKG should first talk to the U.S. about
how to handle situations when the North exacerbates the crisis
through provocations such as an additional nuclear test, rather than
simply going along with the 'pressure and neglect' tactic. If the
Six-Party Talks no longer function properly, the ROK and the U.S.
should discuss if there is any other alternative to the multilateral
talks."
"THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD MAKE IT CLEAR THAT NO AID WILL
BE POSSIBLE IF NORTH KOREA REJECTS THE SIX-PARTY TALKS"
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo editorialized (05/04): "Observers say that
Secretary Clinton's clear response is attributable to the lesson
learned from 20 years of negotiations with North Korea. Although
the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush Administrations placated the
North with concessions in response to its bad behavior, they failed
to prevent the North from crossing the nuclear threshold in the end.
... This lesson the U.S. has learned should also apply to the ROK,
China, Japan and Russia. ... If the five nations of the Six-Party
Talks show no response while North Korea resumes reprocessing spent
fuel rods -- violating the spirit of the Six-Party Talks (which
began in August 2003),the February 13 and the October 3 Agreements
of 2007 -- it would mean that those five nations are avoiding their
obligations. If the five parties back down again, no one will have
any expectation that the Six-Party Talks can resume, never mind
resolving the North Korean nuclear issue. The ROK, China, Japan and
Russia should actively follow the position of the U.S. that should
the North reject the [Six-Party] Talks, that they will provide no
aid. If the five nations drag their feet, they will once again be
taken in by the North."
STANTON