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TAGS: KPAO PGOV PREL MARR ECON KS US
SUBJECT: PRESS BULLETIN - January 02, 2009 
 
Opinions/Editorials 
 
¶1. "North Korea Returns to the Past with Its Strategy of 'Tongmi 
Bongnam'" 
(Hankook Ilbo, January 2, 2009, Page 31) 
¶2. Frustrating Editorial 
(JoongAng Ilbo, January 2, 2009, Page 34) 
¶3. Let U.S. Congress be an Example to Korean Lawmakers 
(Chosun Ilbo, January 2, 2009, Page 31) 
 
 
Features 
 
¶4. U.S. Allots Quota For East Asian Refugees 
(Chosun Ilbo, January 2, 2009, Page 2) 
¶5. Activists Resume Anti-N.Korea Leaflet Campaign 
(Chosun Ilbo, January 2, 2009, Page 8) 
¶6. N. Korea Urges Nuke Dialogue With Obama Government 
(Dong-a Ilbo, January 2, 2009, Front Page) 
 
 
Top Headlines 
 
Chosun Ilbo, All TVs 
Ruling and Opposition Parties in Final Negotiations Today 
Over Major Contentious Bills, Including Media Law 
 
JoongAng Ilbo 
"2009 is the Year for ICK (India, China, Korea)"... 
ROK Economy Has Hopes 
 
Dong-a Ilbo 
Ruling and Opposition Parties Closer to Shelving FTA 
and Media Law 
 
Hankook Ilbo 
58%: "Livelihood Is More Difficult Than in the IMF Crisis" 
62%: "Economy Will Recover After 2010" 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun 
National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyung-o "Withholds Authority to 
Present Bills to the National Assembly until Jan. 8" 
 
Segye Ilbo 
Overcoming Crisis Depends on Exports 
 
Seoul Shinmun, All TVs 
Pyongyang Urges Seoul to "Implement June 15 Joint Declaration and 
October 4 Declaration" 
 
 
Domestic Developments 
 
1  In a joint editorial by North Korean media, regarded as an 
official New Year's message, Pyongyang stressed its efforts to 
achieve denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and showed an 
eagerness to talk with a new USG over its nuclear program, while 
blaming the Lee Myung-bak Administration for its failure to honor 
inter-Korean agreements. (All prints and TVs) 
 
2 ROK civic groups resumed sending about 3,000 anti-Pyongyang flyers 
to North Korea in a month near the inter-Korean border yesterday. 
(JoongAng, Dong-a, Chosun) 
 
3 In a survey of 32 ROK experts, 13 considered it "possible" to move 
toward North Korea's nuclear dismantlement within 2009, while 15 
people responded that top-level U.S.-North Korea talks are unlikely 
in 2009. (Hankyoreh) 
 
 
International News 
 
1 According to a report on the admission of refugees to the U.S., 
submitted by the Departments of State, Homeland Security, and Health 
and Human Services to the Judiciary Committees of Congress, the U.S. 
will accept up to 80,000 refugees from around the world, giving 
preference to families of North Korean defectors during Fiscal Year 
¶2009. (All prints and TVs) 
 
 
Media Analysis 
 
North Korea 
All newspapers reported on a joint editorial carried by the North 
Korean media, which is regarded as Pyongyang's official New Year's 
message.  In the editorial, Pyongyang stressed its efforts to 
achieve denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and claimed 
eagerness to discuss its nuclear program with a new US 
Administration. Editorialists blamed the Lee Myung-bak 
Administration for its failure to honor inter-Korean agreements. 
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo headlined its story: "Pyongyang 
Describes ROK Authorities as 'Fascists' for the First Time in 14 
Years, Heralding a Tough Road Ahead for Inter-Korean Relations." 
JoongAng Ilbo also editorialized: "The (North Korean joint) 
editorial skipped the usual tirades against the U.S. and its 
presence in the ROK, suggesting that Pyongyang believes it can build 
better Washington-Pyongyang ties with the incoming Obama 
Administration."  Moderate Hankook Ilbo editorialized: "It is 
regrettable that, in the joint editorial, North Korea made clear its 
intention to pursue the strategy of 'Tongmi Bongnam,' under which 
the North engages with the U.S. while sidelining the ROK.  However, 
that the North restrained itself from criticizing the U.S. and 
mentioned the achievement of denuclearization in the Korean 
Peninsula and peace and security in Northeast Asia seem to be a 
positive message toward the incoming Obama Administration." 
 
All newspapers carried reports onthe joint Departments of State, 
Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services agreement on 
refugees recently submitted to the Judiciary Committees of Congress. 
 According to the report, the U.S. will accept up to 80,000 refugees 
from around the world and give preference to families of North 
Korean defectors during Fiscal Year 2009. 
 
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun asked 32 experts about the security 
outlook of the Korean Peninsula.  A majority speculated that in 
2009, the U.S. and North Korea will have strengthened relations, 
while inter-Korean relations will remain deadlocked. 
 
Middle East 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo reported that Israel is using bunker-buster 
missiles, which it received recently from the U.S., in strikes 
against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.  The report also cited 
speculation in the Arab world that Palestine's moderate Fatah 
faction and Israel are colluding to "blight" Hamas.  Conservative 
Dong-a Ilbo reported that a high-ranking Hamas figure, who has led 
suicide terrorism against Israel, was killed in an Israeli air 
strike and that French President Sarkozy will visit the Middle East 
on January 5 to mediate peace in the region.  Meanwhile, moderate 
Hankook Ilbo carried reports that Israel rejected the international 
community's proposal for a ceasefire while Hamas accepted it on the 
condition that Israel will stop its attack. 
 
On a different note, JoongAng Ilbo reported that Obama is emerging 
as the biggest variable in a series of elections slated for this 
year in Middle Eastern countries, since he is advocating a different 
Middle East policy from that of the Bush Administration. 
 
 
Opinions/Editorials 
 
"North Korea Returns to the Past with Its Strategy of 'Tongmi 
Bongnam'" 
(Hankook Ilbo, January 2, 2009, Page 31) 
 
"It is regrettable that, in the joint editorial, North Korea made 
clear its intention to pursue the strategy of 'Tongmi Bongnam,' 
under which the North engages with the U.S. while sidelining the 
ROK.  However, it seems to be a positive message toward the incoming 
Obama Administration that the North restrained itself from 
criticizing the U.S. and mentioned desire to achieve 
denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula and peace and security in 
Northeast Asia.  On the other hand, Pyongyang did not hesitate to 
strongly criticize the Lee Myung-bak Administration, urging it to 
implement the June 15 Joint Declaration and October 4 Declaration. 
It is evident that North Korea's engagement with the U.S. works well 
only when it is premised on its engagement with the South.  North 
Korea's confrontational attitude toward the South is unsettling." 
 
 
Frustrating Editorial 
(JoongAng Ilbo, January 2, 2009, Page 34) 
 
The annual lengthy editorial was published in the North Korean 
regime's Rodong Sinmun newspaper yesterday.  The publication is the 
official newspaper of the military and young party members.  The New 
Year editorial usually offers some insight in the direction of the 
country's policies at home and abroad. 
 
This year's piece made unusually frequent remarks about economic 
issues, including the need for self-aided economic growth.  It 
skipped the usual tirades against the United States and its presence 
in South Korea and reaffirmed that it would maintain a hard-line 
stance toward the Lee Myung-bak Administration. 
 
The North's stance is more frustrating than ever before. 
Yesterday's editorial said Pyongyang will "never tolerate any 
elements that deviate" from the principles of the June 15 and Oct. 4 
joint declarations made at the two Koreas' summits in 2000 and 2007 
with Seoul's two former liberal presidents.  This policy means that 
the North is unlikely to make any major policy changes, indicating 
that Pyongyang still is not ready to deal with the new 
administration in Seoul. 
 
Seoul has been adopting an increasingly progressive tone to its 
policies on the North over the past few months, slowly focusing more 
on dialogue with Pyongyang.  But the North is showing no signs of 
moving on.  It's like a hedgehog with its prickles unfurled, ready 
to puncture an approaching hand. 
 
If the latest development is aimed at causing political disruptions 
within Korea and weakening the public's unity, as the North did 
during the Cold War, it would be fair to call the editorial 
anachronistic. 
 
We strongly urge the North to take constructive steps toward 
building better inter-Korean ties.  Seoul has to make an effort, 
too, to resume talks with Pyongyang.  Its political slogan 
"improvement of inter-Korean relations based on principles" should 
be more than just an excuse to justify the lack of policies aimed at 
thawing frozen inter-Korean ties. 
 
The usual tirades and hostile remarks toward Washington were 
conspicuously absent from yesterday's editorial,  suggesting that 
Pyongyang believes it can build better Washington-Pyongyang ties 
with the incoming Obama Administration. 
 
This is a positive step since Obama has repeatedly stressed the need 
for "tough and direct" dialogue with Pyongyang.  But such progress 
can be made only when the North is willing and determined to unravel 
its nuclear issues with Washington in a transparent way that leaves 
no questions unanswered. 
 
* This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version. 
 
 
Let U.S. Congress be an Example to Korean Lawmakers 
(Chosun Ilbo, January 2, 2009, Page 31) 
 
January is a busy month for the U.S. Congress.  President-elect 
Barack Obama will meet on Monday with Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, to discuss the passage of a US$1 trillion 
economic recovery bill.  Pelosi has said she will make sure that the 
new president will be able to sign the bill right after he is 
inaugurated on Jan. 20.  Republican lawmaker and Senate Minority 
Leader Mitch McConnell and House Republican Leader John Boehner have 
vowed to do everything necessary to save the U.S. economy.  They 
propose to hold a week-long hearing to reveal the full details of 
the bill through public debate.   The House of Representatives will 
hold a hearing starting next Wednesday, which will be attended by 
academics and representatives from the business community. 
 
The Senate, meanwhile, has said it will make sure that confirmation 
hearings on Obama's Cabinet appointees in the economic, foreign and 
national security areas can be wrapped up before he is inaugurated. 
 
Here in Korea, lawmakers have also vowed to revive the economy and 
overcome the obstacles facing their country.  Ruling Grand National 
Party leader Park Hee-tae said lawmakers must succeed in saving the 
economy, which is a pledge the party made to the public in the 
presidential and general elections.  Main opposition Democratic 
Party leader Chung Se-kyun said his party will take the lead in 
overcoming the country's obstacles by tapping into its experience in 
leadership.  But it was empty talk. 
 
For a week now, the DP's lawmakers have locked themselves in the 
main hall of the National Assembly to block the passage of major 
reform bills.  Opposition lawmakers have fastened mountain-climbing 
ropes to their hips so they can form a human chain and have brought 
mattresses into the main hall where they have been eating and 
sleeping.  The GNP is in emergency stand-by mode.  Ruling and 
opposition party representatives agreed Wednesday to continue talks 
on deadlocked issues, while the GNP has conceded by postponing 
passage of a controversial broadcast reform bill, but the situation 
is uncertain.  As a result, bills that are crucial to easing the 
financial burden on low-income Koreans have yet to be ratified. 
They include 15 bills needed to implement the 2009 budget, measures 
to limit interest charged by loan sharks, and steps to ease the rent 
burden on Koreans without their own homes. 
 
According to a New Year's Gallup Korea poll, 68 percent of 
respondents said Koreans had "no hope," while only 30 percent said 
they had "some hope left."  In contrast, a joint survey by ABC and 
the Washington Post showed 63 percent of Americans were optimistic 
about 2009.  The reason behind the starkly contrasting views can be 
explained by the busy schedules of American lawmakers and the 
contrasting behavior of Korean Assembly members. 
 
* This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version. 
 
 
Features 
 
U.S. Allots Quota For East Asian Refugees 
(Chosun Ilbo, January 2, 2009, Page 2) 
 
By Reporter Lee Ha-won 
 
The U.S. has agreed to accept 80,000 refugees in 2009.  19,000 of 
this quota is to be for refugees from East Asia, including North 
Korea, China, Tibet, and Burma.  The 100 refugees from the region 
seeking to join their families already in the U.S. will have 
priority. 
 
According to a report the State Department and the Department of 
Homeland Security jointly worked out and submitted to Congress, the 
quota for refugees from East Asia for 2009 is 19,000, down 1,000 
from 2008.  Last year the U.S. accepted 17,000 refugees from Burma 
and 1,000 refugees from Vietnam. 
 
How many North Korean refugees will be accepted is not specified, 
but they are to come under the Priority-1 Group, where each refugee 
will be screened individually, and Priority-3 Group, where refugees 
will be given priority in joining family members already in the U.S. 
 Some 600 refugees will be let in under Category P-1 and 100 under 
Category P-3. 
 
The report expresses grave concern about human rights of North 
Koreans both in the Stalinist country and in nearby countries like 
China.  It said the U.S., which has helped North Korean refugees 
resettle since 2006, will continue the program. 
 
A total of 75 North Korean refugees have settled in the U.S. Since 
the U.S. first accepted a North Korean refugee under the North 
Korean Human Rights Act of 2004. 
 
* This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version. 
 
 
Activists Resume Anti-N.Korea Leaflet Campaign 
(Chosun Ilbo, January 2, 2009, Page 8) 
By Reporter Seon Jeong-min 
 
Activists resumed sending anti-communist leaflets to North Korea 
after a month-long voluntary suspension at the request of the 
government and the ruling party.  Some 50 members of an association 
of 24 conservative civic groups on Thursday gathered in Imjingak 
Plaza in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, to attach 3,000 leaflets to one 
large balloon and 300 other small balloons to send to North Korea 
for an hour at 2:40 p.m. 
 
The leaflets contain criticism of the North Korean regime, comparing 
the luxurious life of leader Kim Jong-il with the dire food 
shortages elsewhere in the country. .  Some nightscape pictures of 
Seoul and Pyongyang, and food aid to North Korea, were also 
included. 
 
Choi Woo-won, co-leader of the association, said, "The Sunshine 
Policy is obviously a failure, since millions of North Koreans have 
died of starvation despite several billion tons of food aid by the 
South Korean government over the last 10 years.  The Unification 
Ministry also does not have any right to prevent civic groups 
sending leaflets." 
 
Due to a mild breeze, the members could only send 3,000 out of the 
30,000 leaflets they prepared.  "We will hold a massive rally in 
about 10 days," said Choi.  The Family Assembly Abducted to North 
Korea and the Fighters for a Free North Korea, two groups that 
normally lead such campaigns, did not participate in Thursday's 
event. 
 
* This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version. 
 
 
¶N. Korea Urges Nuke Dialogue With Obama Government (Dong-a Ilbo, 
January 2, 2009, Front Page) 
 
By Reporter Shin Seok-ho 
 
North Korea yesterday stepped up its criticism of the South Korean 
government and urged the South Korean people to launch 
anti-government struggles in a joint newspaper editorial. 
 
The North, however, claimed to be willing to engage in nuclear 
disarmament talks with the incoming U.S. administration and 
expressed hope for improved relations with the United States. 
 
Under the title "Blowing Horns for a Concerted March, Let's Usher in 
a New Year of Revolution," the communist country's three major 
newspapers branded the South Korean government and the ruling camp 
as "power brokers who have betrayed the nation." 
 
The dailies also called the Seoul government and the ruling party 
"anti-unification forces going counter to the time of independent 
unification while currying favor with the United States and being 
hostile to fellow Koreans." 
 
Pyongyang blamed the Lee Myung-bak Administration for aggravating 
inter-Korean relations. 
 
The editorial urged South Korea to implement the two joint 
declarations signed by President Lee's two liberal predecessors and 
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in the 2000 and 2007 inter-Korean 
summits. 
 
The North urged people in the South to intensify their struggle to 
"topple the conservative, non-patriotic and fascist regime and 
eliminate the risk of war." 
 
This joint editorial is the first by Pyongyang since the 2000 
inter-Korean summit to denounce Seoul. 
 
In contrast, the three dailies had friendlier messages for the 
United States and neighboring countries.   "The validity of our 
Republic's independent foreign policy, aimed at the denuclearization 
of the Korean Peninsula and securing peace and safety in Northeast 
Asia and the world, is increasingly bearing fruit." 
 
Pyongyang mentioned "denuclearization" in its New Year's editorial 
for the first time in in 13 years.  In 1996, it said it will seek 
"sweeping and complete abolition of nuclear weapons." 
 
Yesterday's editorial omitted previous criticism of Washington and 
demands for the suspending joint military drills and withdrawing 
U.S. troops stationed in the South. 
 
Declaring 2009 as the year of a "new revolution," the communist 
country pledged to revive its economy by 2012 under a new economic 
initiative similar to the Chollima Movement of the 1950s. 
 
Under Chollima, all North Koreans were mobilized for economic 
development. 
 
In its New Year's joint editorial issued last year, Pyongyang 
defined 2012 as the year to pave the way for a strong country.  2012 
will mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of the country's 
founder Kim Il-sung and the 70th birthday of Kim Jong-il. 
 
* This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version. 
 
 
Stephens 
1