SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; JANUARY 11, 2010

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SEOUL 000035 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; JANUARY 11, 2010 TOP HEADLINES -------------- Chosun Ilbo School Chiefs Face Tough Evaluation; Underperforming Principals Will Be Denied Reappointment and Face Demotion JoongAng Ilbo Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Chief Vows to Make Public All Candidates for Police Officer Promotion on the Internet Dong-a Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, Hankyoreh Shinmun, Segye Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun, All TVs Political Turmoil Looms Large over Sejong City; ROKG to Unveil Sejong City Revision Plan Today, with Opposition Parties and Pro-Park Geun-hye Faction Strongly Opposing It DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS -------------- The ROKG has chosen a new site for ROK reconstruction workers and troops to be deployed to Afghanistan. The site is a state-owned plot located north of Charikar, capital of Parwan Province. (Dong-a, Segye, Seoul, KBS) A Korean businessman, after being punished in the ROK for bribing U.S. public officials, was recently arrested and received a prison sentence on the same charges in the U.S., sparking a controversy over double punishment. (Hankook) INTERNATIONAL NEWS -------------- According to ROKG and EU diplomatic sources, on Dec. 22 of last year, the EU slapped sanctions on key North Korean government officials and companies related to the North's nuclear program. Jang Song-taek, a brother-in-law of leader Kim Jong-il, and Kim Yong-chun, minister of the People's Armed Forces, were among 13 individuals targeted by the EU. (All) MEDIA ANALYSIS -------------- President Obama's Remarks on Improving Security Carrying the identical headline, "The Buck Stops with Me," most ROK media on Saturday (Jan. 9) led their international news sections with reports quoting President Barack Obama as saying in a Jan. 7 address regarding the attempted terror attack on Christmas Day: "For ultimately, the buck stops with me. As President, I have a solemn responsibility to protect our nation and our people. And when the system fails, it is my responsibility." Coverage was mostly straightforward. Conservative Chosun Ilbo noted an AP report saying that it is very unprecedented for President Obama, who has denounced President Bush's "war on terror" as an exaggerated expression, to state that the U.S. is "at war against al Qaeda." Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo's sub-head read: "Obama Gives More Weight to Improving System than to Reprimanding Those Responsible." Moderate Hankook Ilbo's sub-head read: "Obama Rejects Calls for Firings of Top Spy Chiefs over Security Breakdown... He Will Increase Investments in Homeland Security and Aviation Security, Including $1 Billion in New Systems and Technologies" -N. Korea -------------- Citing ROKG and EU diplomatic sources, all ROK media carried reports that on Dec. 22 of last year, the EU slapped sanctions on key North Korean government officials and companies related to the North's nuclear program. According to media reports, Jang Song-taek, a SEOUL 00000035 002 OF 002 brother-in-law of leader Kim Jong-il, and Kim Yong-chun, minister of the People's Armed Forces, were among 13 individuals targeted by the EU. STEPHENS