SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; May 14, 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 SEOUL 000771 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; May 14, 2009 TOP HEADLINES -------------- Chosun Ilbo National University of Singapore Ranked First in Recruiter Review in an Asian University Assessment Conducted by Chosun Ilbo and QS JoongAng Ilbo Pentagon to Deploy 48 F-22s and F-35s to Guam in Five Years to Brace for Possible Emergency on Korean Peninsula Dong-a Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, All TVs Supreme Court Chief Justice Issues Stern Warning to Justice Shin for "Inappropriate" Intervention in Politically Sensitive Trials Hankyoreh Shinmun Supreme Court Justice Shin Refuses to Step Down... Junior Judges to Meet Today to Call for His Resignation Segye Ilbo Pace of Job Losses Slows for First Time in 8 Months Seoul Shinmun ROKG Seeks to Cut All Redundancy in Welfare Programs DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS -------------- U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, in a May 12 interview with Radio Free Asia (RFA),said that (he) did not ask the ROK to send troops to Afghanistan during his visit to Seoul last month. He also expressed satisfaction with Seoul's recent decision to expand financial aid to the war-torn country. (Chosun) The Board of Audit and Inspection yesterday accused the Unification Ministry of having been lax in monitoring strategic materials that may have entered North Korea and could be used to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. According to the state audit agency, last year the Ministry allowed ROK firms to take 270 computers to North Korea for business purposes without employing sufficient security measures. (Dong-a, Hankyoreh, Segye, Seoul) INTERNATIONAL NEWS -------------- President Barack Obama, in a May 12 statement to the PSI Operational Experts Group meeting currently underway in Miami, expressed his hope to turn the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which aims to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction, into a permanent international regime in which all countries participate. (Chosun, Dong-a, Hankook, Hankyoreh, Segye, Seoul, all TVs, OhmyNews) U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Stephen Bosworth purportedly said in Tokyo on May 12 before heading back to the U.S. that (he) would consider visiting North Korea over the next few weeks." (Hankyoreh, Segye, Seoul, all TVs, Pressian, VoiceofPeople) MEDIA ANALYSIS -------------- -North Korea -------------- Most ROK media quoted U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Stephen Bosworth, who purportedly said in Tokyo on May 12 before heading for the U.S. that (he) would consider visiting North Korea over the next few weeks. SEOUL 00000771 002 OF 006 Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun, in particular, took note of Ambassador Bosworth's setting a deadline of "the next few weeks," and commented that this might indicate Ambassador Bosworth's intention to think seriously about a "package of proposals" to present to North Korea, because he cannot go there empty-handed. Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized: "North Korea, which had long desired to hold direct talks with the U.S., has unilaterally boycotted the Six-Party Talks. In this situation, if the U.S. hurries talks with North Korea, giving the impression that it is impatient to hold such talks, it could be seen as another type of 'compensation' for North Korea and could undermine the U.S.'s bargaining power. ... The U.S. should limit its agenda for direct talks with North Korea to the resumption of the Six-Party Talks. North Korea may have many agenda items in mind, but the first and foremost task at hand for the U.S. is to achieve the denuclearization of North Korea." -Troop Deployment to Afghanistan -------------- Conservative Chosun Ilbo gave play to U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke's May 12 interview with Radio Free Asia (RFA),in which Ambassador Holbrooke said that (he) did not ask the ROK to send troops to Afghanistan during his visit to Seoul last month. Ambassador Holbrooke also expressed satisfaction with Seoul's recent decision to expand financial aid to the war-torn country, according to the Chosun Ilbo report. The newspaper interpreted Ambassador Holbrooke's remarks as allowing Seoul greater latitude in deciding on the Afghan aid issue, as well as indicating the State Department's desire to see Seoul promptly provide non-military aid rather than creating a stir in Korean society by asking for deployment of Korean troops. OPINIONS/EDITORIALS -------------- U.S. MUST TREAD CAREFULLY IN DEALING WITH N. KOREA (Chosun Ilbo, May 14, 2009, Page 35) U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Stephen Bosworth returned to Washington D.C. on Tuesday after wrapping up his visits to China, South Korea and Japan. U.S. Special Envoy to the Six-Party Talks, Sung Kim, who accompanied Bosworth, met Russian officials in Moscow on Wednesday. The purpose of the visit by Bosworth and his team was to discuss ways to get North Korea to return to the Six-Party Talks. Speaking with reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday, Bosworth said there is a high possibility of direct U.S.-North Korea talks and said he would think about the timing of that option over the next few weeks. Depending on how North Korea reacts, that means Washington-Pyongyang talks could take place before the South Korea-U.S. summit in Washington on June 16. The U.S. government has several times held bilateral talks with North Korea within the framework of the Six-Party Talks. Now direct talks to convince the North to resume the Six-Party Talks seem inevitable. But there are a few things about which Washington needs to be careful. North Korea, which has long desired to hold direct talks with the U.S., has unilaterally boycotted the Six-Party Talks. In this situation, if the U.S. hurries talks with North Korea, giving the impression that it is impatient to hold such talks, it could be seen as another type of 'compensation' for North Korea and could undermine the U.S.'s bargaining power. The North Korean regime has dealt with several U.S. administrations, but Pyongyang's rejection of the Six-Party Talks is the first challenge the Obama Administration faces in dealing with the communist country. This means it needs to prepare very thoroughly, especially since it has not yet completed its comprehensive review of North Korea policy. SEOUL 00000771 003 OF 006 The U.S. should limit its agenda for direct talks with North Korea to the resumption of the Six-Party Talks. North Korea may have many agenda items in mind, but the first and foremost task at hand for the U.S. is to achieve the denuclearization of North Korea. The most pressing item on the agenda is to resolve the problem of taking nuclear samples from North Korea for verification, which the North verbally promised former Chief Negotiator Christopher Hill in October last year, but later refused, claiming that it had not been signed on paper. Things will get more complicated if North Korea seeks to set the agenda for the next phase of the Six-Party Talks in advance. This needs to be discussed with the other countries participating in the Six-Party Talks. The U.S. must work closely with South Korea. The North has come out with new demands since the inauguration of the Obama Administration this year. For example, it has claimed that diplomatic relations between Washington and Pyongyang must be formed before it gives up its nuclear program. It has also demanded that the U.S. government recognize it as a nuclear power and that Washington removes South Korea from its nuclear umbrella protection, and that it can inspect U.S. military installations in South Korea. All of these require the consent of South Korea and make close cooperation between Seoul and Washington absolutely necessary. (This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is identical to the Korean version.) FEATURES -------------- HOLBROOKE: "I DID NOT ASK ROK TO SEND TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN" (Chosun Ilbo, May 14, 2009, Page 6) By Washington correspondent Lee Ha-won Holbrooke's remarks spark controversy. The U.S. Department of Defense pays close attention. While the possible deployment of ROK troops to Afghanistan is emerging as a big issue between the ROK and the U.S., Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan and akistan said on May 12 that he did not ask the ROK to send troops to Afghanistan. Ambassador Holbrooke visited the ROK and met with ROKG officials including President Lee Myung-bak last month. In a May 12 interview with Radio Free Asia (RFA),he said that (he) will never pressure the ROKG to deploy troops. Ambassador Holbrooke said that he is well aware of the difficulties Korea has undergone due to the Afghanistan situation in recent years. He added that he respects the decision made by the Koreans. Also, he said he was very satisfied that Seoul decided last week to expand financial aid to Afghanistan. Ambassador Holbrooke's remarks should not be interpreted to mean that the Obama Administration does not want a military contribution from the ROK. However, his remarks can be interpreted that the U.S. is willing to allow the ROKG greater latitude in deciding on the Afghan aid issue. In particular, it is noteworthy that Holbrooke expressed satisfaction with Seoul's decision to expand financial aid (given Korea's own troubles in Afghanistan),referring to the death of a Korean missionary in Afghanistan in 2007. Ambassador Holbrooke is in charge of overall U.S. policy on Afghanistan, and directly reports to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Obama. It is reasonable to interpret, through his remarks, the State Department's desire to see Seoul promptly provide non-military aid rather than creating unrest in Korean society by asking for deployment of Korean troops. However, unlike the State Department, the U.S. Defense Department is SEOUL 00000771 004 OF 006 wary that Holbrooke's remarks could be interpreted to mean that the U.S. does not want the ROK to send troops to Afghanistan. Previously, the Defense Department reacted sharply to similar remarks made by Holbrooke during his visit to Seoul last month. Reportedly, the Defense Department informally has sounded out the ROKG about sending troops, referring to a unit of military engineers, through its own military channel. PENTAGON TO DEPLOY 48 F-22S AND F-35S TO GUAM IN FIVE YEARS (JoongAng Ilbo, May 14, 2009, Front page) By Military affairs reporter Kim Min-seok The U.S. will increase military power capable of assisting the Korean Peninsula (in case of emergency). (Fighters to be deployed) can fly to the Korean Peninsula within 3 hours. The U.S. Department of Defense plans to enhance considerably the combat capability of Guam's (air) base which could play an important role in an emergency situation on the Korean Peninsula. According to the '2009 Guide to Foreign Military Forces Structure' distributed on May 13 by the U.S. Air Force, the Defense Department will establish a joint command center in Guam this October. The joint command center will integrate operation of U.S. bases in Guam and the Mariana Islands. Also, the center will serve as a hub for U.S. forces which could be augmented in case of an emergency on the Korean Peninsula. According to the Guide, the U.S. decided to deploy 4 Global Hawk high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam this year in order to bolster Guam's combat capability. In ordinary times, the Global Hawks will patrol China and North Korea. In case of an emergency, the Hawks can reconnoiter movements of North Korean army around the clock to provide information necessary for U.S.-ROK operations. Also, the Pentagon will deploy 48 state-of-the art fighters including 12 next-generation aerial tankers KC-Xs, 6 strategic bombers, F-22's and F-35's. Next-generation fighters and strategic bombers at Anderson Air Force Base can fly to the Korean Peninsula within 3 hours while being aerially refueled. F-22 and F-35, both fifth-generation stealth fighters, are not detected by the radar network of North Korean army. Also, the U.S. will relocate 8,000 Marines stationed in Okinawa to Guam. Currently, 1,700 military forces, 8 B-52 strategic bombers and 18 F-15's are stationed at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam. 1,100 soldiers and 4 nuclear submarines are stationed at a naval base in nearby Mariana Islands. In case of an emergency, U.S. combat forces stationed at these bases as well as other combat forces to be deployed will fly to the Korean Peninsula through Guam. Moreover, 6 large transport ships carrying all kinds of equipment and supplies, which enable massive marine forces to engage in combat for 30 days, are on stand-by. On another note, the Guide said that China runs 3 hacker units (cyber warfare unit). In 1997, China created a 'computer virus unit' consisting of 100 agents under the auspices of the Central Military Commission. In August 2000, China also established an 'anti-hacker unit' under the control of the Chinese Academy of Science. China has been operating an 'electronic warfare unit' under the control of 4 townships including Beijing and Guangzhou. According to the Guide, China's hacker unit was caught attempting to hack into (the computer system of) the ROK mission in the U.S. last March. The Guide said that the ROK mission traced back the IP address of hackers and identified China's hacker unit as a culprit. OBAMA URGES COUNTRIES TO JOIN WMD INITIATIVE (Chosun Ilbo, May 14, 2009, Page 21) By Washington Correspondent Lee Ha-won SEOUL 00000771 005 OF 006 U.S. President Barack Obama called on all countries Wednesday to join the Proliferation Security Initiative. A diplomat in Washington said Obama made the call in a statement at a conference of the PSI steering group, the Operational Experts Group, in Miami, Florida on Tuesday. He reiterated the importance of turning the PSI, which aims to intercept the maritime transport of weapons of mass destruction and related technology, into a permanent international regime. Obama said there was no more urgent threat to the security of the world than the spread of weapons of mass destruction. The diplomat quoted Obama as stressing the constant need for "strong and comprehensive" international cooperation to counter the threat. There was speculation that Obama would be less than enthusiastic about the PSI, which is the brainchild of the George W. Bush Administration. But in a speech in Prague in April, Obama also urged the international community to join the PSI. His stance on the PSI is expected to have a great influence on the ROKG, which is currently considering fully participating in PSI. UNIFICATION MINISTRY LAX IN MONITORING STRATEGIC MATERIALS (Dong-a Ilbo, May 14, 2009, Page 8) By Reporter Kim Ki-hyun The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) pointed out on May 13 that the Ministry of Unification has been lax in monitoring materials taken out (of the country) into North Korea. When goods are carried to North Korea, they need government authorization, in a measure designed to prevent "strategic materials," which could be used to manufacture weapons of mass destruction, from entering North Korea. As it turns out, the Ministry of Unification's criteria and procedures for this authorization process are not strict enough. According to the BAI, the Unification Ministry authorized four high-tech items, including conductive polymers and high radiation tolerant color cameras, to be brought into North Korea from 2005 to 2008 without checking if they fall under the category of strategic materials. Furthermore, the ministry was not aware that three items -- including black gunpowder -- were taken (to North Korea) without authorization last year. It was also found out that 270 computers, which can only be brought to North Korea under the condition that they are returned within a year, were taken out of South Korea without the ministry's authorization. BAI also found that the Ministry was lax in its efforts to ensure that computers taken to North Korea with the ministry's approval are brought back to the ROK as stipulated by the rules (i.e. within 1 year). In particular, it was not confirmed whether the computers, which had been carried into North Korea for events celebrating ROK officials' visit to the North, have ever been returned to the ROK. Most of the computers had entered the North without customs clearance because they were carried as personal belongings. The BAI noted, "Last year, out of 35,253 goods, only 22 failed to get authorization (to enter the North.)" The BAI also criticized the Korea Customs Office for not checking the Unification Ministry's authorization when reviewing the documents (submitted for customs clearance). BAI asked the Customs office to consider reprimanding the responsible employees and lodge a complaint against the involved companies for violating the Customs Law. In response, the Unification Ministry said, "The Korea Strategic Trade Institute made a final judgment that the four strategic items, including conductive polymers, are not strategic materials," adding, "We plan to come up with manuals (helping us judge whether an item is a strategic material or not) so as to control strategic materials efficiently." SEOUL 00000771 006 OF 006 STANTON