SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; JANUARY 8, 2010

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 SEOUL 000023 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; JANUARY 8, 2010 TOP HEADLINES -------------- Chosun Ilbo 3.11 Million Baby Boomers Face "Unprepared Retirement" JoongAng Ilbo Forced Media Closings Called Illegal Truth and Reconciliation Commission Says State Should Provide Compensation for Damages Suffered by the Outlets Dong-a Ilbo Anti-Eavesdropping Device to be Introduced for Notebook Computer Users Hankook Ilbo, Hankyoreh Shinmun, Segye Ilbo, All TVs Former Ruling GNP Chairwoman Park Reiterates Opposition to New Sejong City Plan Seoul Shinmun Fine Sought for Owners of Houses and Stores Who Fail to Clear Snow DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS -------------- According to a senior ROKG official, 48 senior North Korean officials and experts were given a crash course in capitalism at Dalian University in China late last year with money from the ROKG. (Chosun) INTERNATIONAL NEWS -------------- According to Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell said in a recent interview with the newspaper: "The Six-Party Talks have been supported by all its players, including China, so I am hopeful the Six-Party Talks will be restarted, probably soon." (Seoul) MEDIA ANALYSIS -------------- -N. Korea -------------- Moderate Seoul Shinmun covered Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell's recent interview with Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, in which he said: "The Six-Party Talks have been supported by all its players, including China, so I am hopeful the Six-Party Talks will be restarted, probably soon." State-run KBS and Yonhap News carried reports quoting Assistant Secretary Campbell as saying in a Jan. 7 news briefing: "(During last month's U.S.-North Korea bilateral talks in Pyongyang,) North Korean interlocutors indicated a potential disposition to return to those (Six-Party Talks),to that process. We think that that is essential, and we are making the case that the next step is to convene a Six-Party process meeting." According to these reports, this is the first time a USG official has confirmed that North Korea indicated its intention to return to the Six-Party Talks during the last month meeting. OPINIONS/EDITORIALS -------------- U.S. HAS No SPECIFIC PLANS YET TO RATIFY KORUS FTA 
(Maeil Business Newspaper, January 4, Page 13) By Washington correspondent Jang Gwang-ik On December 22, after the heaviest snow fell on the East Coast, including Washington, in 126 years, federal government offices were SEOUL 00000023 002 OF 004 shut down for two days. As a result of this (emergency situation) U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke was busier than at any other time. Moreover, since he just returned from Copenhagen along with President Barack Obama, his schedule was very tight. I had an interview with Secretary Locke at his office, accompanied by Jeffrey Dutton, Director of the Office of the Pacific Basin at the U.S. Department of Commerce, who attended the negotiations on the Korea- U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) in 2007. Secretary Locke was guarded in his comments on the KORUS FTA, which is a contentious matter between the two countries. However, he enthusiastically talked about the U.S.'s ambitious strategy to expand exports and develop clean technology. ¶Q. The world is concerned about protectionist moves that have emerged in some countries following the economic crisis. President Obama once said that trade is important in creating new jobs. What is the USG's strategy to curb the rising trend of global protectionism and expand free trade? In the U.S. economy, exports account for 13 percent of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) and play an important role in creating 6 million jobs in the manufacturing sector. In order to ramp up exports, the U.S. plans to revitalize the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC) which I chair as the Secretary of Commerce. We are well aware of some barriers that block U.S. companies from fulfilling the export potential. A case in point is the U.S. export management system established in 1950s. This system prohibits the transfer of U.S technology to a country which was hostile to the U.S. during the cold war era. This is an inappropriate system in the 21st century. President Obama directed (related) agencies to review this system in a comprehensive manner. The Commerce Department will also make additional efforts to protect intellectual property rights. ¶Q. The U.S. stresses "rebalancing", urging trade surplus countries to change their trade-dependent economic structure and increase domestic demand by boosting domestic consumption. In particular, the U.S. has been constantly raising this issue with China. What is the prospect of rebalancing between the U.S. and China and how can you achieve it? The G20 leaders who gathered in Pittsburgh in September 2009 adopted the "Framework for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth." From a similar perspective, the G20 summit and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) emphasize that it is important to balance global demand. To promote balanced global demand, trade deficit countries such as the U.S. should spend less and save more. This should reverse U.S. budget deficit. On the contrary, economies that continue to record massive current account surpluses should prop up domestic demand and reduce their dependence on exports. It is neither sound nor realistic for the global economy to seek growth by depending on one demand (the U.S.) In order to redress trade imbalance between the U.S. and China, the U.S. should export more to China instead of importing less from China. The U.S. will export more goods and services to China. ¶Q. The U.S. faces an unemployment rate of more than 10 percent, dimming the prospect of sustainable growth. In December 8, 2009, President Obama announced measures to create jobs such as tax cuts for small businesses, investment in social overhead capital and support for energy efficient homes. How (much benefit) do you expect from these measures? Small businesses are the engine for creating jobs. President Obama has persistently demonstrated his strong commitment to support small businesses since he took office. A good example is the Recovery Act which was passed in February 2009. This Act is designed to help small businesses succeed and create more jobs. The Act provides funding to states for restoration, repair, and construction of SEOUL 00000023 003 OF 004 highways, bridges, schools and hospitals, and for expansion of broadband (so that all Americans can have access to it),and for development of renewable energy and green technology. Regarding social overhead capital investment, we have invested 24 billion dollars in funding 7,400 construction projects across the country so far, and over 4,000 of these projects are already under way. The U.S. economy is trying to make additional fundamental changes to provide for sustainable growth. Thus far, President Obama has made unprecedentedly large-scale investments at the national level in developing next-generation computer systems and in the field of solar and wind power. Through this, he intends to bring the environment and the economy on the track of sustainable growth. Renewable energy development, which President Obama is spurring, has already seen considerable progress, and companies in the field of solar or wind power generation are rehiring workers laid off from other industries. That field will surely become the most-growing industry of the 21st century. ¶Q. Since its early days, the Lee Myung-bak Administration has expressed its strong determination toward green growth. Could you tell us about the USG's way of nurturing the green growth industry? One of the first pieces of legislation that President Obama signed after his inauguration was the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This Act includes a plan to invest 80 billion dollars in green (clean) energy. This will double the U.S.'s energy production capacity in three years and create thousands of jobs. In addition, President Obama pledged to spend 150 billion dollars in green energy research and development. We are convinced that the U.S. will lead the world in the green energy field. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (in the U.S. Department of Commerce) has started considering a measure to accelerate the approval of a patent for green technology. Once this review is done, the period of time necessary to take out a patent on green technology will be shortened by about a year, thereby making it possible to guarantee funding to technology development companies, push for new projects, and put more green technologies into practice. ¶Q. During President Obama's visit to the ROK in mid-November 2009, he promised to make an effort to seek Congressional approval for the ROK-U.S. FTA, and so the ROK government and people are grateful and have high expectations. What is the USG doing to support the ratification of the ROK-U.S. FTA? And regarding the timing for the Congressional approval of the ROK-U.S. FTA, many people think that the first half of 2010 is the most appropriate. What is your take on this? The ROK-U.S. FTA is economically the most important deal that the U.S. has signed over the past 16 years. Therefore, the Obama Administration is seeking ways to strengthen its economic relations, including trade and investment, with the ROK. The U.S. is well aware of the potential economic benefits of a free trade pact. The Obama Administration does not have any specific timetable or schedule regarding when to send the ratification bill to Congress. At present, it is preparing measures focused on dispelling the concerns about the FTA which have been raised in the U.S. Before sending the FTA ratification bill to Congress, we think that there is a need for the administration and Congress to examine the pact thoroughly in order to gain wide support. ¶Q. The ROK will be hosting the G20 summit in November of 2010. What would you advise the ROK to do to make the event a success? First of all, I would like to congratulate the ROK for hosting the summit. In particular, President Lee Myung-bak showed great SEOUL 00000023 004 OF 004 leadership in bringing up the issue of trade restriction measures in some countries at the first G20 Summit. The ROK is also one of the nations that escaped the financial crisis at an early stage, and it has much experience (in overcoming a crisis.) I believe that the ROK will fulfill its role as a G20 host nation and make the summit a successful event. I also expect that the U.S., together with the ROK, will make the G20 summit a productive event where they can achieve their goals. STEPHENS