Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL772
2009-05-14 06:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
how-toVZCZCXRO4002 RR RUEHGH DE RUEHUL #0772 1340638 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 140638Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4337 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 8548 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5958 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 9721 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5866 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 0692 RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 4382 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 3359 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 6556 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0968 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2306 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1380 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1989
UNCLAS SEOUL 000772
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC: DPRK
--------------
"U.S. MUST TREAD CAREFULLY IN DEALING WITH NORTH KOREA"
Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized (05/14): "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. 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."
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
--------------
"U.S. MUST TREAD CAREFULLY IN DEALING WITH NORTH KOREA"
Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized (05/14): "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. 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."
STANTON