SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; FEBRUARY 17, 2010

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SEOUL 000244 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; FEBRUARY 17, 2010 TOP HEADLINES -------------- Chosun Ilbo, Segye Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun, All TVs ROK Wins First Winter Olympic Gold in Long-Track Speed Skating; Mo Tae-bum Wins Men's 500-Meter Race JoongAng Ilbo "Uniting People" is Focus of 2012 Presidential Election; Although It's Too Soon to Tell, Most Political Leaders Surveyed Say Former Ruling GNP Chairperson Park Geun-hye Has Best Shot to Win Dong-a Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo From Obscurity to National Hero: Mo Tae-bum Wins Korea's First Olympic Gold in Speed Skating Hankyoreh Shinmun Ruling GNP Seeks Revision of Law on Assembly and Demonstration to Ban Rallies after 10 p.m. INTERNATIONAL NEWS -------------- According to The New York Times, in a major victory against the insurgents, the Taliban's top military commander has been arrested in a joint CIA-Pakistani operation in Pakistan. (All) MEDIA ANALYSIS -------------- -Afghanistan -------------- Citing the foreign media, all ROK media covered the capture of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar who is reported to be the Taliban's No. 2 leader behind Afghan Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar and a close associate of Osama bin Laden, in a joint CIA-Pakistani operation in Pakistan. Conservative Chosun Ilbo headlined its article: "Taliban's No. 2 Leader Captured; Afghan War Enters New Phase." Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo cited a New York Times report saying: "American officials have seen indications that the Pakistani military and spy services may finally have begun to distance themselves from the Taliban. Mullah Baradar's capture, in this regard, could suggest a new level of cooperation from Pakistani leaders, who have been ambivalent about American efforts to crush the Taliban." -U.S. Midterm Election -------------- In a commentary, moderate Hankook Ilbo observed: "The Obama Administration has taken a hard-line approach on China, as illustrated by its decision to sell arms to Taiwan, criticism of China's Internet censorship and pressure to appreciate the Chinese currency, the Yuan. ... Given that President Obama is putting top priority on winning the November midterm election, his hard-line approach is in accord with the sentiment of U.S. citizens who want (America's) hurt pride to be restored. ... ROK-U.S. relations will also be affected by the upcoming U.S. election. ... President Obama has underscored the importance of export growth and job creation following his Jan. 27 State of the Union Address. We should be prepared for possible stronger U.S. demands to renegotiate the KORUS FTA, including issues on auto provisions." OPINIONS/EDITORIALS -------------- IMPACT OF U.S MIDTERM ELECTION SEOUL 00000244 002 OF 002 (Hankook Ilbo, February 17, Page 38) By International News Editor Goh Tae-sung President Barack Obama will meet Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, at the White House on November 18. The White House said that the President looks forward to engaging in a constructive dialogue with the Dalai Lama. The meeting is expected to irritate China, which has been cautioning President Obama not to meet the Tibetan leader. President Obama has not "always" looked forward to meeting with the Dalai Lama. He did not meet the Tibetan religious leader in October last year when he came to Washington to receive a human rights award from the U.S. Congress. Facing criticism from the U.S. Congress and human rights groups, President Obama said it would be difficult to meet the Dalai Lama before his visit to China (which was scheduled in November.) It seems that the President was mindful of China's (reaction.) (Therefore,) the Obama Administration's recent attitude toward China signals a dramatic change. The Obama Administration has taken a hard-line approach on China, as illustrated by its decision to sell arms to Taiwan, criticism of China's Internet censorship and pressure to appreciate the Chinese currency, the Yuan. This is a big departure from the controversial passive attitude the President took when he visited China in November 2009. What made the U.S. change? There are different opinions on this. Some observers say that the U.S. is taking a hard line with China because it has shrugged off U.S. demands that China play a more appropriate role as the world's second largest economy. In particular, we believe that the U.S. (upcoming) midterm election is the cause of the change in the attitude of the Obama Administration. Given that President Obama is putting top priority on winning the November midterm election, his hard-line approach is in accord with the sentiment of U.S. citizens who want (America's) hurt pride to be restored. The midterm election began to have an impact (on the Obama Administration) after Democrats lost the Massachusetts Senate seat on January 19. President Obama opposed the Supreme Court ruling on corporate spending in political campaigns. He took a swipe at Wall Street for handing out big bonuses, saying that he wants to tax big banks to recover taxpayer money spent to bail out failing firms at the height of the financial crisis. President Obama's later comment that the Wall Street bonuses are part of the free market system represents an about-face (from his previous position) ahead of the midterm election. Analysts believe that he could not continue to ignore Wall Street, which provides political funds. ROK-U.S. relations will also be affected by the upcoming U.S. election. A good example is the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA),about which President Obama seems to be sending mixed signals. The prevailing opinion, prior to the midterm election, was that President Obama would not take action to seek congressional approval of the FTA. However, things have changed since he delivered his State of the Union Address on January 27. The President repeatedly made similar remarks after stressing the need for a KORUS FTA in his State of the Union Address. In the State of the Union Address, he said, "We will double our exports over the next five years, an increase that will support two million jobs in America." Therefore, observers in the ROK see brighter prospects for the ratification of the KORUS FTA. But President Obama has underscored the importance of export growth and job creation following his Jan. 27 State of the Union Address. We should be prepared for possible stronger U.S. demands to renegotiate the KORUS FTA, including issues on auto provisions. As demonstrated by a flurry of congressional hearings on Toyota's recalls, the U.S. will resolutely deal with areas of its interest ahead of the midterm election. STEPHENS