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SUBJECT: PRESS BULLETIN - January 6, 2009 
 
Opinions/Editorials 
 
¶1. "International Community Should Speak with One Voice about Gaza 
Situation" 
(Seoul Shinmun, January 6, 2009, Page 31) 
¶2. Obama Diplomacy and Goldilocks' Rule 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, January 6, 2009, Page 30) 
 
 
Features 
 
¶3. Delayed Relocation of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division 
(Dong-a Ilbo, January 6, 2009, Page 12) 
 
 
Top Headlines 
 
 
Chosun Ilbo 
National Assembly Building Surrenders to Violence 
 
JoongAng Ilbo 
Five Business Groups Urge Quick Passage of Media-Related 
and FTA Bills 
 
Dong-a Ilbo, All TVs 
Seoul-Incheon Canal, Capable of Accommodating 
4,000-ton Vessels, to Be Completed by Dec. 2011 
 
Hankook Ilbo 
Ruling and Opposition Parties Have Final Negotiations Today 
to Iron Out Differences 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun 
"Peace Education" to Be Entirely Deleted 
from New Ethics Textbook 
 
Segye Ilbo 
90% (of people agree): "Special Measures Needed to Prevent 
Entertainers and Sons of Business and Political Leaders from 
Avoiding Military Service" 
 
Seoul Shinmun 
Normalization of National Assembly Depends on Pro-Lee Myung-bak Camp 
and Blue House 
 
 
Domestic Developments 
 
1 The Ministry of Unification said that the number of North Korean 
refugees that crossed the border in 2008 to seek new lives in the 
South totaled 2,809, a 10-percent increase from a year earlier. 
(JoongAng, Seoul, Segye, All TVs) 
 
2 According to a ROK military source, the relocation of the U.S. 2nd 
Infantry Division has been postponed to 2016 because the U.S. is 
concerned that the ROKG may ask for a delay in the relocation, as 
the Roh Moo-hyun administration did, and the U.S. wants a realistic 
schedule that will ensure that the project is not influenced by 
changes in the political situation in the ROK, including possible 
anti-U.S. sentiment. (Dong-a) According to a military source, while 
the ROK is demanding that the 2nd Infantry Division be moved by 
2014, the U.S. is citing the funding issue as a reason why the 
relocation should be put off to 2016. (Hankook, Seoul, Segye, All 
TVs, VoiceofPeople) 
 
3 At the end of last year, USFK Commander Gen. Walter Sharp 
reportedly proposed to the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff that even 
after wartime operational control is handed over to the ROK 
military, the headquarters of the U.S. Eighth Army should remain in 
the ROK. (Chosun) 
 
4 President Lee's diplomatic advisory group, including former 
Foreign Minister Han Sung-joo, will leave for the U.S. today to 
discuss the policy direction of the incoming Obama Administration. 
(Segye, VoiceofPeople) 
 
5 Unification Ministry Spokesman Kim Ho-nyeon said that the 
inflammatory comments against Seoul in Pyongyang's New Year 
editorial violate inter-Korean accords that call on the governments 
not to interfere in each other's internal matters. (Hankook, Seoul) 
 
 
Media Analysis 
 
Israel's Assault on Gaza 
All newspapers gave prominent inside-page play to the 
Israeli-Palestine conflict.  Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo ran a 
story headlined: "Israel's Ground Operation Succeeds... Hamas 
'Willing to Accept Unconditional Ceasefire.'"  In a related story 
headlined "Coldness, Hunger, Death...Gaza Seized with Fear," the 
newspaper reported that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had asked 
Israeli authorities to open three border crossings to allow in 
grain, power plant fuel and other essential supplies. 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo reported that despite its promise to 
support Hamas, Hezbollah did not intervene.  The newspaper headlined 
another story: "French President Sarkozy Actively Engaged in 
Resolving Middle East Situation, in Stark Difference to Silent 
Obama." 
 
Moderate Hankook Ilbo headlined its story: "With Israeli Ground 
Forces Intensifying Their Offensive, Street Warfare Is Imminent." 
The article also reported that, amid a rapidly rising toll of 
civilian casualties, controversy is arising over Israeli forces 
using UN-banned weapons. 
 
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun quoted a Korean expert on the Middle 
East as saying that Israel's assault on Gaza is aimed at warning 
Obama that Israel should take top priority in his policy toward the 
Middle East. 
 
Moderate Seoul Shinmun and conservative Segye Ilbo carried 
front-page stories headlined: "Israel Rejects Hamas's Ceasefire 
Proposal."  Segye Ilbo ran an inside-page report saying that if 
Hezbollah and Iran intervenes, it could lead to the "fifth Middle 
East war." 
 
Seoul Shinmun editorialized: "The U.S.'s stance is important in 
making the international community's mediation effective.  U.S. 
President-elect Obama has kept silent on this situation.  The UN 
Security Council failed to adopt a resolution calling for a 
ceasefire due to Washington's opposition.  In order to reduce the 
suffering of the Gaza residents, the international community must 
speak the same language." 
 
North Korea 
JoongAng Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun and Segye Ilbo reported that the 
Ministry of Unification said that the number of North Korean 
refugees who crossed the border in 2008 to seek new lives in the 
South totaled 2,809, a 10-percent increase from a year earlier. 
 
Hankook Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun quoted Unification Ministry Spokesman 
Kim Ho-nyeon as saying that the inflammatory comments against Seoul 
in Pyongyang's New Year editorial violate inter-Korean accords that 
call on both governments not to interfere in each other's internal 
matters. 
 
JoongAng Ilbo carried the East Asia Institute's outlook on the North 
Korean issue.  The institute predicted that North Korea may put less 
emphasis on a military-first system  in 2009, ushering in a big 
change. 
 
 
Opinions/Editorials 
 
"International Community Should Speak with One Voice about Gaza 
Situation" 
(Seoul Shinmun, January 6, 2009, Page 31) 
 
Although we need to wait for the result of the mediation by the 
European countries, such as France, the UK, and Russia, what is 
important in making the international community's mediation 
effective is the stance of the U.S..  U.S. President-elect Obama has 
kept silent on this situation.  The UN Security Council failed to 
adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire due to Washington's 
opposition.  In order to reduce the suffering of the Gaza residents, 
the international community must speak with one voice. 
 
 
Obama Diplomacy and Goldilocks' Rule 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, January 6, 2009, Page 30) 
 
There is a fairy tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  In the 
story, a little girl named Goldilocks does not choose hot or cool 
porridge, but chooses porridge that is just right.  Like Goldilocks, 
President-elect Obama should neither take a hard-line approach nor 
be too soft on North Korea in dealing with the nuclear issue. 
Obama's new diplomatic policy drew a lot of attention not only from 
the U.S., but from nations around the world.  He criticized George 
¶W. Bush's unilateral diplomacy, stressing the importance of a 
multilateral diplomatic approach.  He underlined human security 
issues including the environment and human rights, as well as 
traditional ones such as the military threat.  Obama also commented 
that he would be willing to meet with a leader of a rogue state to 
address nuclear proliferation issue. 
Despite his pledge, he cannot help but focus on problems plaguing 
the U.S. economy for some time.  He has to deal with not only the 
economic crisis, but conflicts in Palestine, Afghanistan, Pakistan, 
Iran and Iraq. 
Given that, the ROK is not likely to be the top priority of the 
Obama Administration.  The administration may pursue a policy of 
managing the North Korean nuclear program, rather than devoting 
itself to nuclear disarmament, unless North Korea resumes its 
nuclear tests.  This means that the Obama Administration may be 
satisfied with freezing nuclear weapons, rather than aggressively 
seeking to dismantle North Korea's nuclear weapons and facilities. 
 
Some believe that a 'bold initiative' can resolve the North Korean 
nuclear issue, but the regime's fundamental policy cannot be changed 
with eye-opening suggestions alone. 
The Obama Administration should neither put the North Korean issue 
on the backburner nor make haste in resolving the issue. Following 
Goldilocks' rule, the U.S. government needs to pursue a multilateral 
approach and international cooperation, while strengthening its 
alliance with other nations. 
 
 
Features 
 
Delayed Relocation of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division 
(Dong-a Ilbo, January 6, 2009, Page 12) 
 
By Reporter Yoon Sang-ho 
 
The Ministry of National Defense announced on January 5 that the 
Program Management Consortium, which manages the planned relocation 
of the U.S. bases, submitted a final proposal, and the U.S. and ROK 
will produce a final conclusion outlining an official deadline and 
costs of the relocation by the end of this month. 
 
"The U.S. and ROK saw no significant differences in their opinions 
in reviewing the final proposal submitted by the PCM," a military 
source said.  Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee and U.S. Forces Korea 
Commander Walter Sharp are expected to reach an agreement on the 
relocation plan within this month. 
 
The PCM, overseeing the relocation of the U.S. military bases in 
Korea, has put forth a final proposal to move the Yongsan Garrison 
in Seoul by the end of 2014 and the 2nd Infantry Division in 
northern Gyeonggi Province by the first half of 2016. 
 
Nevertheless, some people have expressed concern that the agreement 
will not be reached soon. 
 
Despite Korea's demand to complete the relocation by 2014, the U.S. 
postponed the relocation of the 2nd Infantry Division to 2016, 
citing funding problems.  In addition, the U.S. is concerned that 
Korean government may ask for a delay in the relocation, as the Roh 
Moo-hyun administration did, which is one of the reasons behind the 
rescheduled relocation. 
 
Both countries agreed in July 2004 to complete the relocation of 
military bases by the end of 2008.  Two years later, however, Korea 
requested that the relocation be postponed, citing Korean protests 
as the main reason, and the relocation was delayed until 2012.  At a 
press conference, Burwell B. Bell, then U.S. Commander of U.S forces 
in Korea, made controversial remarks saying "The U.S will fight if 
the relocation is delayed." 
 
"The relocation project was derailed for political reasons including 
'independent defense' or 'anti-Americanism', so the U.S. wants a 
realistic schedule that will ensure that the project is not 
influenced by the political situation in Korea," a ROK military 
source said. 
 
 
Stephens 
1