Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL964
2009-06-17 07:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
how-toVZCZCXRO0957 RR RUEHGH DE RUEHUL #0964 1680707 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 170707Z JUN 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4732 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 8738 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6191 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 9887 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6101 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 0872 RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 4587 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 3567 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 6753 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1124 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2457 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1531 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2140
UNCLAS SEOUL 000964
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
IRANIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
--------------
"Preventing Further Bloodshed in Iran"
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized (06/17): "First and
foremost, we hope that the Iranian government and opposition parties
will work together to avoid any further blood clashes. Iran is a
key state in determining the political situation in the Middle East.
No one benefits if Iran falls into a spiral of bloody violence. ...
President Ahmadinejad has caused discontent among reformist forces
by adhering to a hard-line conservative policy at home and abroad
since taking office. ... What makes the current protests serious is
that the general public critical of the current regime has aligned
itself with the reformist forces. ... In order to resolve the
situation, the forces in power must open their ears to the people's
calls for change. They must keep in mind that if they attempt to
resolve it through hard-line tactics of suppression, they will end
up in even greater chaos."
EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC: DPRK
--------------
"Seoul Must Be Ready to Defend Itself"
Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized (06/17): "Presidents Lee and
Obama agreed to work together to achieve the complete and verifiable
elimination of North Korea's nuclear weapons and existing nuclear
and missile programs. ... The problem is how to achieve this
objective. There is mounting pessimism in the international
community, as well as the ROK and the U.S., about the resolution of
the North Korean nuclear and missile issue. Using physical means to
eliminate North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities is not a
realistic solution. A difficult task lies ahead for the ROK and the
U.S. to overcome this pessimistic sentiment ... and to come up with
a fundamental solution to the issues."
"Did U.S., ROK Leaders Discuss Ways to Move China?"
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized (06/17): "At issue is
the effectiveness of the sanctions (against North Korea.) Unless
China takes an active part, the sanctions will hardly be effective.
... Accordingly, the U.S. and ROK leaders should focus their
dialogue on how to move China toward maximizing the effect of the
sanctions against the North. We hope that the two leaders had an
in-depth exchange of views on this during the summit."
"ROK-U.S. Summit Calls for Sticks against N. Korea"
Moderate Hankook Ilbo editorialized (06/17):
"Pressure and sanctions are not enough to resolve the issue of North
Korea's nuclear and long-range missile development. This is why it
is regrettable that the two leaders, while agreeing to pressure the
North, failed to present incentives to bring the North back to
dialogue. Now is the time for the international community to stand
united to apply pressure on the North. However, only when the North
is offered a way out is a peaceful resolution possible."
STANTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
IRANIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
--------------
"Preventing Further Bloodshed in Iran"
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized (06/17): "First and
foremost, we hope that the Iranian government and opposition parties
will work together to avoid any further blood clashes. Iran is a
key state in determining the political situation in the Middle East.
No one benefits if Iran falls into a spiral of bloody violence. ...
President Ahmadinejad has caused discontent among reformist forces
by adhering to a hard-line conservative policy at home and abroad
since taking office. ... What makes the current protests serious is
that the general public critical of the current regime has aligned
itself with the reformist forces. ... In order to resolve the
situation, the forces in power must open their ears to the people's
calls for change. They must keep in mind that if they attempt to
resolve it through hard-line tactics of suppression, they will end
up in even greater chaos."
EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC: DPRK
--------------
"Seoul Must Be Ready to Defend Itself"
Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized (06/17): "Presidents Lee and
Obama agreed to work together to achieve the complete and verifiable
elimination of North Korea's nuclear weapons and existing nuclear
and missile programs. ... The problem is how to achieve this
objective. There is mounting pessimism in the international
community, as well as the ROK and the U.S., about the resolution of
the North Korean nuclear and missile issue. Using physical means to
eliminate North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities is not a
realistic solution. A difficult task lies ahead for the ROK and the
U.S. to overcome this pessimistic sentiment ... and to come up with
a fundamental solution to the issues."
"Did U.S., ROK Leaders Discuss Ways to Move China?"
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized (06/17): "At issue is
the effectiveness of the sanctions (against North Korea.) Unless
China takes an active part, the sanctions will hardly be effective.
... Accordingly, the U.S. and ROK leaders should focus their
dialogue on how to move China toward maximizing the effect of the
sanctions against the North. We hope that the two leaders had an
in-depth exchange of views on this during the summit."
"ROK-U.S. Summit Calls for Sticks against N. Korea"
Moderate Hankook Ilbo editorialized (06/17):
"Pressure and sanctions are not enough to resolve the issue of North
Korea's nuclear and long-range missile development. This is why it
is regrettable that the two leaders, while agreeing to pressure the
North, failed to present incentives to bring the North back to
dialogue. Now is the time for the international community to stand
united to apply pressure on the North. However, only when the North
is offered a way out is a peaceful resolution possible."
STANTON