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SUBJECT: PRESS BULLETIN - November 10, 2008 
 
Opinions/Editorials 
 
¶1. Prepare for Renegotiation of ROK-U.S. FTA 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, November 10, 2008, Page 27) 
¶2. Seoul Should Not Delay Introducing the FTA Ratification Bill to 
the National Assembly 
(Seoul Shinmun, November 10, 2008, Page 31) 
¶3. Cooperation and Trust 
(JoongAng Ilbo, November 8, 2008, Page 26) 
¶4. Will the ROKG Simply Sit Back and Watch U.S.-North Korea Contact 
Accelerating? 
(Seoul Shinmun, November 10, 2008, Page 31) 
¶5. Obama's Unexpectedly Fast Move Toward North Korea (Hankook Ilbo, 
November 10, 2008, Page 39) 
¶6. We Should Not Miss an Opportunity to Change North Korea Policy 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, November 10, 2008, Page 27) 
¶7. Will the ROKG Intend to Continue With Its Failed Foreign and 
North Korea Policy? 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, November 8, 2007, Page 27) 
¶8. Korea Should Not Misread the New U.S. Administration (Chosun 
Ilbo, November 10, 2008, Page 35) 
 
 
Features 
 
¶9. S. Korea and U.S. Could Be Headed For Friction Due To Economic 
Policy Differences 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, November 10, 2008, Page 5) 
¶10. Obama Staff Meet N.Korean Official in New York 
(Chosun Ilbo, November 10, 2008, Page 6) 
 
 
Top Headlines 
 
Chosun Ilbo 
ROKG and Ruling Party Push for "Preemptive Bailout" 
For Businesses before Their Bankruptcy 
 
JoongAng Ilbo 
Auto Industry Accelerates Restructuring 
 
Dong-a Ilbo 
Prime Minister's Office Evaluated Performances of All Ministers and 
Vice Ministers Last Month, Which Heralds 
Large-Scale Cabinet Reshuffle 
 
Hankook Ilbo 
ROK-U.S. FTA Rapidly Emerging As "Key Issue" As Ruling Party Decides 
to Submit FTA Ratification Deal to the National Assembly's Committee 
for Unification, Diplomacy 
and Trade Within This Week 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun, SBS 
China Unveils Economic Stimulus Package 
Worth 7 Trillion Yuan 
 
Segye Ilbo 
Lawmakers Consider Merging Financial Supervisory Service and 
Financial Services Commission into Financial Services Authority and 
Centralizing All Financial Policies 
Under Minister of Strategy and Finance 
 
Seoul Shinmun 
Obama's Top Priority Is to Rescue Middle Class and 
Support Auto Industry 
 
 
Domestic Developments 
 
1 The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) is in confrontation with the 
opposition Democratic Party (DP) over the ratification of the 
ROK-U.S. FTA.  While the GNP argues that it will unilaterally put 
the deal to a vote by Nov. 17, the DP says that it will even use 
physical force to block it. (All prints and TVs) 
2 An ROKG high-ranking trade official recently said, "Before the 
U.S. presidential election, an Obama campaign official delivered the 
message to us that, if the ROK first ratifies the FTA, it will help 
(the U.S. Congress ratify the deal)."  (Dong-a, Hankook) 
3 Hwang Joon-kook, director general for the North Korean nuclear 
issue at the ROK's foreign ministry, had an hour-long meeting with 
 
Frank Jannuzi, a senior foreign policy advisor to U.S. 
President-elect Obama, in New York on Nov. 7, to exchange views on 
the North Korean nuclear issue.  (Dong-a, Hankyoreh) Meanwhile, 
Jannuzi also had a closed-door meeting with Ri Gun, director general 
for North American affairs at North Korea's foreign ministry. 
According to Prof. Zagoria, who sat in on the meeting, it was 
"optimistic and friendly." (All, KBS, MBC) 
4 A North Korean military team visited the Gaesong Industrial 
Complex on Nov. 6, during which the team reportedly asked how long 
it would take for ROK businesses to pull out of the complex, in an 
apparent effort to put pressure on the ROK. (All, SBS) 
5 U.S. Ambassador to the ROK Kathleen Stephens watched a music 
concert by Jang Sa-ik at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts 
on Nov. 8 and said, "I fell in love with the warm and comforting 
Korean songs." (Maeil Business Newspaper) 
 
 
International News 
 
¶1.      A diplomatic source in Washington said on Nov. 9 that under 
the Obama administration, the North Korean nuclear issue will be 
fourth in priority after the economy, and the Iraq and Pakistan 
issues. (Chosun) 
 
 
Media Analysis 
 
Reaction to the U.S. Presidential Election 
On Saturday, November 8, all newspapers gave front-page play to a 
12-minute phone conversation between President Lee Myung-bak and 
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama.  During the conversation, both 
agreed to further strengthen their security and economic alliance. 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo quoted a diplomatic source in Washington as 
saying on Nov. 9 that under the Obama administration, the North 
Korean nuclear issue will be fourth in priority after economy, and 
the Iraq and Pakistan issues. 
 
Regarding Washington's demand for the ROK's troop contribution to 
Afghanistan, Chosun Ilbo editorialized on November 8: 
"President-elect Obama plans to enhance multinational forces in 
Afghanistan with the help of nations across the world.  Since the 
ROK has grown into the world's 13th largest economy through 
international security and economic order, it cannot be indifferent 
to global issues, such as terrorism and transnational crimes.  In 
addition, a ROK-U.S. strategic alliance for the 21st century implies 
that the ROK will take responsibility befitting its status.  Troop 
contribution is a matter that the ROK should consider 
comprehensively based on the future of the ROK-U.S. alliance, the 
national interest, and public opinion." 
 
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized on November 8: "The 
ROK-U.S. alliance may have more room to grow and be improved upon 
during Obama's tenure, as he has long advocated multilateral 
diplomacy, emphasizing cooperation and joint efforts with the 
international community." 
 
Carrying the headline, "Relations between the Obama Administration 
and North Korea Is up to Pyongyang," Chosun Ilbo editorialized: 
"What Pyongyang should not misunderstand is that unlike Bush, Obama 
does not need to be in a hurry to score a point in his waning days. 
The U.S. now has time to look at the North Korea nuclear issue from 
the starting point again.  The starting point is to affirm the 
principle of a complete nuclear dismantlement and the prevention of 
nuclear proliferation.  The difference between Obama and Bush lies 
only in ways to achieve the goal." 
 
Seoul National University Professor Yoon Young-kwan said in an 
opinion piece carried by JoongAng Ilbo: "While the U.S. Republican 
government simply regarded North Korea's nuclear development as a 
security matter and took little interest in its root cause, the 
Obama administration is expected to admit that North Korea's nuclear 
ambitions stemmed from its security anxiety and diplomatic 
isolation, and to help the North resolve these concerns.  In 
addition, while the Bush administration dangled the establishment of 
diplomatic ties with Pyongyang in front of the North as a reward for 
its nuclear abandonment, the Obama administration is likely to use 
diplomatic relations as an incentive for the North to fulfill its 
promise to denuclearize." 
 
Lee Joon-kyu, head of the Americas Bureau at the Korea Institute for 
International Economic Policy, said in an opinion piece carried by 
JoongAng Ilbo: "When the Obama administration is inaugurated, it 
will likely call for renegotiation on the automobile sector of the 
ROK-U.S. FTA.  However, we should persuade the Obama administration 
(not to demand renegotiation), saying that renegotiation will break 
a balance in the economic interests of both nations and damage the 
ROK-U.S. alliance.  The ROK's National Assembly should also show its 
policy consistency by promptly approving the free trade pact." 
 
Regarding the FTA issue, Dong-a Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo quoted an ROKG 
high-ranking trade official as recently saying, "Before the U.S. 
presidential election, an Obama campaign official delivered the 
message to us that, if the ROK first ratifies the FTA, it will help 
(the U.S. Congress ratify the deal)." 
 
North Korea 
All newspapers reported that Frank Jannuzi, a senior foreign policy 
advisor to U.S. President-elect Obama had a closed-door meeting with 
Ri Gun, director general for North American affairs at North Korea's 
foreign ministry in New York on November 7.  According to Prof. 
Zagoria, who sat in on the meeting, it was "optimistic and 
friendly." 
 
Carrying the headline, "Obama's Unexpectedly Fast Move toward North 
Korea," moderate Hankook Ilbo editorialized: "President-elect 
Obama's (staff) and a delegate from North Korea had a meeting on the 
sidelines of the expert meeting on the Korean Peninsula, hosted by 
the National Committee on American Foreign Policy in New York on 
November 7th.  Their contact came earlier than expected... 
President-elect Obama promised 'continuous, direct and aggressive' 
policy toward North Korea, saying that he was 'ready to meet North 
Korean leader Kim Jong-il without any condition.'  The U.S.-North 
Korea contact in New York can be regarded as an occasion where the 
U.S. delivered (Obama's) such message directly to the North.  Along 
with the fact that the North has been expressing its expectations 
for President-elect Obama in various forms, this is a sign that both 
parties will make move quickly.  We should welcome these 
developments too.  Although some are worried that North Korea may 
sideline the ROK and only communicate with the U.S., those worries 
are baseless considering close relations between the ROK and the 
U.S.  Rather, we need to step up our efforts to coordinate with the 
U.S. the policy tone and strategy toward the North without any 
disruption." 
 
Editorial writer Kwon Soon-taek said in an opinion piece carried by 
conservative Dong-a Ilbo: "Obama is highly likely to engage in 
aggressive diplomacy with North Korea in a give-and-take manner. 
However, he did not forget to warn that, if North Korea does not 
implement its agreement, it will have to pay the price.  If 
Pyongyang only intends to gain benefits without a complete nuclear 
development, its direct talks with the Obama administration will 
fall far short of its expectations." 
 
 
Opinions/Editorials 
 
Prepare for Renegotiation of ROK-U.S. FTA 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, November 10, 2008, Page 27) 
 
By Choi Tae-wook, professor of the Graduate School of International 
Studies at Hallym University 
 
The most unsettling aspect of the ROK-U.S. FTA is that it could 
reduce the government's authority over the market.  A good example 
of that is the investor-state dispute settlement (ISD), under which 
foreign investors can file a suit with an international arbitration 
organization against the countries in which they have invested.. 
Under this mechanism, it would be difficult for our central or local 
governments to map out and implement regulations or public policies 
out of concerns about the possibility of lawsuit. 
 
The recent U.S.-sparked financial crisis clearly tells us the 
dangers of non-regulation and deregulation.  Any proper government 
would now realize a need for regulation and try to strengthen the 
role of the government in the market.  The ROK's ruling Democratic 
Party and Democratic Labor Party should use any call by Washington 
for renegotiation of the ROK-U.S. FTA as an opportunity to demand 
that the ISD be deleted from the FTA and to remove or reduce the 
neo-liberalistic nature of the agreement. 
 
Seoul Should Not Delay Introducing the FTA Ratification Bill to the 
National Assembly 
(Seoul Shinmun, November 10, 2008, Page 31) 
 
Amid worries over a renegotiation of the ROK-U.S. free trade 
agreement, the (ROK) political parties are locking horns over the 
ratification of the KORUS FTA. 
 
We are concerned about the conflict because neither the ruling nor 
the opposition parties are making concessions.  Even if the 
international (political) environment has been changed, our 
standards of judging what is in our national interests cannot 
change.  Both parties should compromise in dealing with the 
ratification of the KORUS FTA, leaving behind political 
calculations. 
 
The ROKG should not make a careless mistake to push for the 
renegotiation of the bilateral agreement, only based on the 
propensity of President-elect Obama.  (It should be recalled that) 
even the Clinton Administration, which was more inclined to 
protectionism (than the incoming U.S. Administration), concluded the 
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) after all.  The ROKG 
should move first, particularly in order not to miss an opportunity 
to jump on the bandwagon of the Obama Administration's new growth 
policy.  It could be better timing (for the ratification) as the 
U.S. has to intensify its efforts for the recovery of the real 
economy. 
 
 
Cooperation and Trust 
(JoongAng Ilbo, November 8, 2008, Page 26) 
 
United States President-elect Barack Obama seems to have a firm 
recognition of the importance of Korea-U.S. relations.  Obama, in 
response to congratulatory messages from foreign countries, made 
phone calls to the leaders of nine countries - Korea, Australia, 
Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Japan and Mexico. 
 
During his phone conversation with President Lee Myung-bak, Obama 
reportedly said he seeks to further cement the already-firm 
Korea-U.S. ties.  He noted that a strong alliance will serve as a 
foundation for establishing peace and prosperity in Asia, stressing 
that the two countries should jointly tackle the current global 
financial crisis and the North Korean nuclear issues through close 
cooperation.  He also said he has great admiration for the Korean 
people. 
 
It is fortunate that Obama appears to understand the fundamental 
importance of the Korea-U.S. alliance and diplomatic ties. 
 
As former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said in his speech in 
Seoul yesterday, the unchanging truth in Korea-U.S. relations, 
despite the many ups and downs in the past, is that the two 
countries are inseparable. 
 
It is only natural that a democratic country experiences changes in 
government policies as administrations change, but all these changes 
are based on an unwavering consensus that the Korea-U.S. alliance is 
highly beneficial to both countries. 
 
The alliance may have more room to grow and be improved upon during 
Obama's tenure, as he has long advocated multilateral diplomacy, 
emphasizing cooperation and joint efforts with the international 
community. 
 
But such positive progress will not come without thorough 
preparation and intense efforts in advance.  What's most important 
at this point is to build trust. 
 
The two countries share the goals of denuclearizing the Korean 
Peninsula, building peace in Northeast Asia and joint prosperity. 
They also share the view that the Korea-U.S. relationship should be 
upgraded to a stronger alliance that can also cooperate in broader 
global issues such as the environment, human rights and countering 
terrorism. 
 
And the key to make such goals a reality is through cooperation, 
since it is impossible to achieve perfect cooperation without mutual 
trust. 
 
If Seoul builds a solid trust with the incoming Obama 
 
administration, there will be no issues that the two countries will 
be unable to overcome, from North Korea policies to the free trade 
agreement. 
 
*This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version. 
 
 
Will the ROKG Simply Sit Back and Watch U.S.-North Korea Contact 
Accelerating? 
(Seoul Shinmun, November 10, 2008, Page 31) 
 
Taking notice of the fact that contact and dialogues between the 
U.S. and North Korea, albeit unofficial, have proceeded at a fast 
speed only three days after the election of Obama, we are concerned 
that the inter-Korean relations are not making any progress compared 
to the accelerating U.S.-North Korea contact. 
 
The (South Korean) National Assembly is urging (the ROKG) to make a 
fundamental review of its policy toward the North in accordance with 
the Obama Administration's expected engagement policy toward the 
North, including sending a special envoy to Pyongyang and changing 
the Denuclearization and Openness 3000 Initiative.  The ROKG, 
however, insists on maintaining the current policies.  It should not 
waste time in consulting with the political parties to examine the 
diplomatic and security situation and review the basis of its North 
Korea policy. 
 
 
Obama's Unexpectedly Fast Move Toward North Korea 
(Hankook Ilbo, November 10, 2008, Page 39) 
 
President-elect Obama's (staff) and a delegate from North Korea had 
a meeting on the sidelines of the expert meeting on the Korean 
Peninsula, hosted by the National Committee on American Foreign 
Policy in New York on November 7th. Their contact came earlier than 
expected. 
 
President-elect Obama promised 'continuous, direct and aggressive' 
policy toward North Korea, saying that he was "ready to meet North 
Korean leader Kim Jong-il without any condition."  The U.S.-North 
Korea contact in New York can be regarded as an occasion where the 
U.S. delivered (Obama's) such message directly to the North.  Along 
with the fact that the North has been expressing its expectations 
for President-elect Obama in various forms, this is a sign that both 
parties will make move quickly. 
 
We should welcome these developments too.  Although some are worried 
that North Korea may sideline the ROK and only communicate with the 
U.S., those worries are baseless considering close relations between 
the ROK and the U.S.  Rather, we need to step up our efforts to 
coordinate with the U.S. the policy tone and strategy toward the 
North without any disruption. 
 
 
We Should Not Miss an Opportunity to Change North Korea Policy 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, November 10, 2008, Page 27) 
 
A series of events that foretell the future of the U.S.-North Korea 
relations and the inter-Korean relations took place, only in a few 
days after the U.S. presidential election, implicating that the 
situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula will change quickly. 
 
(Judging from its fast move,) the North seems to have high 
expectations for President-elect Obama, and the Obama Administration 
is also likely to actively use the North's expectations.  It is 
highly likely that an attempt at an early normalization of the 
U.S.-North Korea relations will be repeated eight years after the 
Bush Administration put a hold to it. 
 
The North, in the meantime, sent a group of military investigators 
to the Kaesong Industrial Complex on November 6th to survey the 
current state (of the inter-Korean project conducted in the 
complex).  North Korea's Lieutenant General Kim Young-chol, who 
headed the investigation team, hinted that the North could take 
'resolute actions,' by asking "how long it takes for the South 
Korean companies to evacuate the complex" and requesting the South 
to stop sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the North. However 
disgruntled with the South, it was wrong for the North to make such 
a threat, holding the Kaesong project hostage.  If things are going 
this way, inter-Korean relations can return to the starting point, 
making the hard-earned achievements useless. 
 
More problematic is the ROKG's attitude.  Although it says that it 
will cope with (North Korea issues) in a determined manner, it is in 
fact neglecting the aggravating situation. 
 
In order for the South to take a lead in discussions regarding the 
Korean Peninsula issue, inter-Korean relations should precede at 
least a half step ahead of U.S.-North Korea relations.  The ROKG 
should be careful so as to not to miss an opportunity to change 
(North Korea) policy. 
 
 
Will the ROKG Intend to Continue With Its Failed Foreign and North 
Korea Policy? 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, November 8, 2007, Page 27) 
 
The election of U.S. Democratic candidate Barack Obama serves as a 
good opportunity for the Lee administration to correct its North 
Korea and foreign policies, which have been fraught with confusion 
and failures so far.  Seoul has virtually ignored the October 4 
Declaration and the June 15 Joint Declaration and focused on taming 
North Korea in its basic North Korea policy.  This policy will 
unavoidably clash with the Obama administration that even pushes for 
a summit with Pyongyang.  In this process, Seoul could be isolated. 
 
The ROKG and the ruling party have reaffirmed their determination to 
ratify the ROK-U.S. FTA at an early date and have decided to send a 
delegation to the U.S.  This behavior is unreasonable.  Besides 
controversy over the contents of the FTA, it is irresponsible to 
seek market integration with the U.S. at a time when the U.S. 
economy is in chaos.  Rather than adhering to the free trade pact, 
the ROK would do well to focus its efforts to overcome the economic 
crisis, while remembering the consequences of its decision to resume 
U.S. beef imports. 
 
 
¶N.  Korea Should Not Misread the New U.S. Administration 
(Chosun Ilbo, November 10, 2008, Page 35) 
 
The North Korean Foreign Ministry's America chief Ri Gun was at a 
meeting and met Frank Jannuzi, the head of Obama's Korea policy 
team, in New York on Friday, as well as Sung Kim, the U.S. Special 
Envoy on North Korean affairs.  He met, in other words, with both 
the incumbent and incoming American administrations simultaneously. 
North Korea was most interested in whether there will be continuity 
in negotiations during the U.S. transition period, according to an 
official who attended the meeting.  When Barack Obama was elected on 
Wednesday, Ri reportedly said, "This seems to require a response," 
and added the North is ready to respond to whichever side is 
elected. 
 
The North may be aiming to convey a message that it is willing to 
continue dialogue with Washington, or show in action what it thinks 
of the incoming administration.  Pyongyang reported Obama's election 
on Friday, two days after the close of the ballot.  When Bush was 
elected in 2000, the report of it came on Dec. 16, four days after 
his election was decided by the Supreme Court.  This is evidently a 
friendly gesture toward Obama. 
 
North Korea has good reasons for it: on several occasions Obama has 
said he is ready to meet leaders of what Bush termed the "axis of 
evil," including Kim Jong-il.  There was rumor from the Obama camp 
that the two sides could open some kind of diplomatic offices in 
Washington and Pyongyang even before the verification of its nuclear 
facilities is completed.  The North effectively wasted six of the 
eight years of the Bush administration to effect direct dialogue. 
Of course it is now pleased at the prospects. 
 
But Obama has retrenched about a summit in the face of widespread 
criticism.  When North Korea was removed from the U.S. terrorism 
list, Obama in a statement warned of new sanctions unless the North 
lives up to its obligations.  In spring he bowed to pressure to take 
an interest in North Korean refugees. 
 
North Korea should take note that President-elect Obama is not, like 
his predecessor, obliged to achieve something before his term 
expires.  America now has time to review its North Korea policy 
again starting from the first principles of  complete abolition of 
the nuclear program and prevention of nuclear proliferation.  The 
difference between Obama and Bush is merely in methodology in 
achieving that end.  If Pyongyang can convince the Obama 
administration that it is truly going to abolish its nuclear 
programs and weapons, then perhaps direct dialogue between Obama and 
Kim Jong-il could be feasible.  But if the North thinks it can sway 
the U.S. in another direction, America will operate with stick as 
well as carrot.  North Korea should not misunderstand a U.S. led by 
Obama.  It should remember that it was the Democratic Clinton 
administration that studied the feasibility of bombing the Yongbyon 
nuclear facilities in 1994. 
 
*This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version. 
 
 
Features 
 
¶S. Korea and U.S. Could Be Headed For Friction Due To Economic 
Policy Differences 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, November 10, 2008, Page 5) 
 
By Reporter Choi Woo-sung 
 
Experts urge Lee administration to align its economic revitalization 
measures to those of other world economies to minimize risk to S. 
Korea 
 
As U.S. President-elect Barack Obama moves to revitalize the U.S. 
economy with the first in what will likely be many massive economic 
stimulus packages, the likelihood of a conflict with the course of 
macroeconomic policy in South Korea has grown.  Above all, the 
economic policies of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who has 
vowed to ease regulations and cut taxes to meet his ambitious 
economic growth goals, collectively known as "MBnomics," are in 
sharp contrast to "Obamanomics," which is likely to include policies 
that tighten financial regulations and expand fiscal spending to 
strengthen the social safety net.  Some observers have expressed 
concerns that these policy differences could amplify the instability 
of the South Korean economy. 
 
Experts acknowledge that both "MBnomics" and "Obamanomics" are both 
attempts at economic revitalization.  An executive at a local bank 
said, "Domestic economic measures will have to be based on the 
country's political and economic environment.  It will be difficult 
for the administration of President Lee Myung-bak to change the 
course of its policies to increase taxes or expand a social safety 
net in accordance with the incoming Obama administration." 
 
Nevertheless, an increasing number of people are saying that South 
Korea and the United States may experience some degree of friction 
because of their conflicting economic policies.  In fact, Obama has 
already indicated he could ask for renegotiation of the FTA to give 
U.S. auto makers greater access to the South Korean market, inciting 
worries of a possible trade dispute with South Korea.  This has 
caused some experts to say it will not be helpful for the South 
Korean government to express the desire to defend its own auto 
industry.  Economics Professor Kim Sang-jo of Hansung University 
said, "Given the nature of trade policy, in which there can be no 
sole beneficiary, we will have no choice but to make a huge 
concession in other fields if we want to protect our interests in 
the automobile industry.  I'm concerned that current (South Korean) 
administration's policies may sacrifice the many for the few, such 
as big exporters over smaller establishments," Kim said.  "There is 
also a risk of amplifying social conflict in South Korea beyond the 
potential for friction with the United States." 
 
There are renewed concerns about the South Korean government's push 
for financial deregulation, such as a bill that would allow 
family-run business conglomerates, or chaebol, to own influential 
stakes in banks.  Economics Professor Cho Bok-hyeon of Hanbat 
National University said, "Regardless of who won the U.S. 
presidential election, and in the midst of reflections about making 
the markets responsible for everything, there is a consensus that 
the loopholes in our financial regulations should be fixed.  The 
administration of President Lee Myung-bak is trying to copy a model 
that the U.S. itself has admitted has failed, so continuing the same 
kind of policy shows a dangerous lack of judgement." 
 
In addition, Cho said, "We should not just adopt the policies of 
other big countries.  In the wake of the financial crisis, the 
economic policies of nations worldwide have begun to converge.  In 
many aspects, the policies of the current administration contradict 
(the economic policies of nations worldwide thereby) putting the 
stability of our economy at risk," Cho said.  "The administration 
should change course and fall in line with the changes in the global 
economic landscape by abandoning its ideological policy agenda." 
 
* This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version. 
 
 
Obama Staff Meet N.Korean Official in New York 
(Chosun Ilbo, November 10, 2008, Page 6) 
 
By New York Correspondent Park Jong-se 
 
U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's staff met with a North Korean 
government official in New York last Friday. 
 
The North Korean Foreign Ministry's American affairs bureau chief Ri 
Gun, who was in New York to discuss his country's nuclear 
verification protocol, and Frank Jannuzi, chief of Obama's Korea 
policy team, attended a meeting of Korea experts organized by the 
National Committee on American Foreign Policy. 
 
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former Assistant 
Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Winston Lord, former 
ambassador to China Stapleton Roy, Donald Zagoria, a professor of 
government at Hunter College, former ambassador to South Korea 
Donald Gregg, and Special Envoy on North Korean Affairs Sung Kim 
were at the seminar. 
 
Despite being unofficial, the two-hour meeting was strictly 
c-o-n-f-i-d-e-n-t-i-a-l.  It was the first contact between Jannuzi, 
who will likely take charge of Obama's Korea policy, and Ri. 
 
Zagoria said the North Korean official seemed most interested in 
whether the Obama administration can maintain continuity in talks 
during the transition period.  He was "encouraged" to see that the 
North Korean official understood that the U.S. government's 
maintenance of momentum of the Pyongyang-Washington dialogue is 
crucial, Zagoria added. 
 
* This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version. 
 
 
Stephens