VZCZCXYZ0011
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #0090 0200738
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200738Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2954
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 8015
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5284
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 9183
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5176
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS SEOUL 000090 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/PD FOR SWALKER, EAP/P, EAP/K 
STATE PASS USDA ELECTRONICALLY FOR FAX/ITP SCHEIKH 
STATE PASS USTR FOR RCASSIDY 
USDOC FOR 4430/IEP/OPB/EAP/JDONIUS 
TREASURY FOR OASIA/MGREWE 
CINCPAC FOR J-74 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR ECON KS US KPAO KMDR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION IN SEOUL 
 
Subject: Media Reaction; Seoul 
 
Presidential Inauguration/New Administration's Foreign Policy/North 
Korea 
 
 
"The Launch of the Obama Administration" 
 
Moderate Seoul Shinmun editorialized (01/20): "At her Senate 
confirmation hearing, Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton 
said, 'America cannot solve the most pressing problems on our own, 
and the world cannot solve them without America,' indicating her 
willingness to depart from [the Bush Administration's] unilateral 
diplomacy.  We urge the incoming Obama Administration not to resort 
to diplomacy based on unilateralism and power in order to resolve 
conflicts around the world.  The Bush Administration called North 
Korea an 'axis of evil,' but failed to deal with the communist 
regime.  Unlike its predecessor, the Obama Administration should 
make substantial progress on the nuclear issue through close 
cooperation with the ROK." 
 
 
"North Korea's Brinkmanship is a Ticket to Nowhere" 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized (01/19): "Given that Obama's 
key officials have said that the incoming administration's top 
foreign policy priorities would be problems in Afghanistan and the 
Middle East, North Korea's unexpected military statement smells like 
a bid to put itself higher on the U.S. priority list.  If that was 
the aim, it would be self-defeating.  U.S. Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice said last month that only a fool would trust North 
Korea.  If North Korea engages in any military confrontation on the 
Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea as it warned, it will only 
cement in the minds of the Obama Administration the impression that 
it is a difficult country to trust and negotiate with.  That will 
make it more difficult for North Korea to realize its desire to sit 
down face-to-face with senior U.S. officials." 
 
 
"Pyongyang's Posturing" 
 
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized (01/19): "North Korea 
appears to be testing bolder brinkmanship to draw attention from 
Seoul and the incoming Obama Administration.  However, it needs to 
be aware that the world has become weary of its games of 
brinkmanship.  Pyongyang may still have room for gains in its 
nuclear strategy.  However, that kind of maneuvering would be just a 
waste of time and do little to help its dismal economic state.  It 
is obvious from the record that North Korea has long been a 
beneficiary of international support, but failed to use the 
resources to improve its economy.  So once again we are forced to 
emphasize that the fundamental remedy to its economic woes would be 
to abandon its nuclear ambitions and to guarantee nuclear-free 
security." 
 
 
"The ROKG, Military, and People Should Respond Calmly and Sternly to 
North Korea's Threat" 
 
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo editorialized (01/19): "North Korea's 
intentions are evident.  It intends to return inter-Korean ties to a 
decade ago, when the ROK provided it with 'generous handouts.'  It 
also aims to create divisions and chaos in ROK society by provoking 
internal conflicts in the ROK.  With the launch of the Obama 
Administration drawing nearer, the North may also aim to obtain a 
better position in nuclear talks by taking preemptive actions.  Its 
threat also seems intended to distract the attention of North 
Koreans from Chairman Kim Jong-il's poor health to external factors. 
 Since the North Korean regime is beyond common sense, we cannot 
rule out the possibility, either, of a military provocation from the 
North in the worst-case scenario.  Only when the ROK and the U.S. 
make it clear that they will not tolerate North Korea's provocation 
against the ROK and its nuclear possession under any circumstances 
can they prevent the North from acting imprudently." 
 
 
Stephens