SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SEOUL 000974 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC: DPRK -------------- "The Risks of Direct Talks between U.S. and N. Korea" Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized (06/18): "In a situation where North Korea is looking only at the U.S., negotiations between the U.S and North Korea will be inevitable. However, we must keep in mind that the U.S. can change its attitude at any time, depending on its national interests. During the first nuclear crisis in the 1990s, the ROK maintained this kind of cooperation with the U.S., but was left out in the cold soon after the U.S. undertook talks with North Korea. ... Above all, it would be 'out of the question' for the U.S.-North Korea talks to develop into nuclear disarmament talks, which would amount to recognizing North Korea as a nuclear state." "No Time to Lose" Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized (06/18): "The (ROK-U.S.) summit did help reduce concerns about a third North Korean nuclear test, but it has not entirely erased the basic sources of anxiety. The two nations ... didn't come up with any solutions on how to actually solve the nuclear conundrum. Given that China holds the key to imposing sanctions on North Korea, more must be done to persuade China to become more active in putting pressure on Pyongyang and helping to resolve the nuclear issue. ... Without fundamental solutions to these problems, the North Korean nuclear reserves will continue to grow and we may, in the end, reach a point of no return. We can use either the stick or the carrot. Time is running out." "Pres. Lee-Obama Summit" Conservative Dong-a Ilbo editorialized (06/18): "The question is whether such firm determination (by the two leaders) can result in changes in North Korea's behavior. ... Pyongyang is set to defy the UN Security Council's new resolution ... The ROK and the U.S. must be prepared for further provocations and aggression by the North. No less important is the need to create an international atmosphere to promote sanctions against the North. North Korean issues are expected to be discussed at the G8 Summit next month in Italy. Washington should take the lead in enforcing UN sanctions on the North and implementing what was agreed upon in the Seoul-Washington summit." "ROK-U.S. Summit Raises More Issues than Solutions on the Nuclear Issue" Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized (06/18): "The two leaders failed to mention ways to fundamentally resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. ... The continuing commitment of 'extended deterrence, including the U.S. nuclear umbrella,' in the 'Joint Vision for the ROK-U.S. Alliance' collides with the objective of denuclearizing the Koren Peninsula because it is based on the premise that North Korea possesses nuclear weapons. ... Instead of creating a desirable solution to the nuclear issue and seeking cooperation from the U.S., the ROKG opted for the misguided approach of focusing on a self-serving hard-line response. The U.S., for its part, without presenting any other alternative, appeared to be awkwardly caught up in a hard-line argument. Some people in both nations are arguing that negotiations are useless, since North Korea aims to secure its status as a nuclear state. This easily ties in with an ultra hard-line argument for increasing pressure against the North even if it means war. It would be incredibly unfortunate if these talks contribute to the spread of such a perspective." STANTON