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UNCLAS SEOUL 000353 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; March 6, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
 
Chosun Ilbo 
Defects Found in Seoul-Busan High-Speed Railroad 
JoongAng Ilbo, All TVs 
Official Housing Prices Fall, Narrowing the Base 
for A Comprehensive Real Estate Tax Based on Home Value 
Dong-a Ilbo 
Son of Japanese Kidnap Victim Yearns to See His Mother, 
who was Abducted to North Korea in 1978 
Hankook Ilbo, Segye Ilbo 
North Korea Threatens Safety of ROK Passenger Planes 
Flying over East Sea 
Hankyoreh Shinmun, Seoul Shinmun 
Supreme Court Judge Confirmed to Have Sent Multiple Emails to Junior 
Judges Urging Them to Speed Up Trials 
of Anti-U.S. Beef Protestors 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
 
 
¶1. The leaders of the ROK and Australia, during their March 5 summit 
in Canberra, adopted a nine-point joint declaration to strengthen 
cooperation on security issues in the region and around the globe. 
In a related development, Blue House Spokesman Lee Dong-kwan told 
reporters that the joint declaration has nothing to do with [the 
ROK's full participation in] the U.S.-led Proliferation Security 
Initiative (PSI) aimed at stopping the spread of weapons of mass 
destruction, which largely targets North Korea. (All) 
 
¶2.  North Korea, in a March 5 statement by its Committee for 
Peaceful Reunification of Korea, made threats against ROK commercial 
airliners that fly over the East Sea during the March 9-20 ROK-U.S. 
joint military drills, ratcheting up tensions on the Korean 
Peninsula. Accordingly, the ROK's two major airlines, Korean Air and 
Asiana Airlines, have decided to alter certain routes to move planes 
further away from the North. (All) 
 
¶3. Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea 
Policy, will visit Seoul tomorrow to discuss security issues, 
including a possible missile launch by North Korea, with Seoul 
officials. (Chosun, Dong-a) 
 
¶4. Former Assistant Secretary of State Morton Abramowitz, in a 
recent contribution to The National Interest, published by the Nixon 
Center, said that North Korean officials told Ambassador Bosworth 
and his delegation when they visited Pyongyang from Feb. 3-7 that 
North Korea would give up its nuclear ambitions if the U.S. 
abrogates its alliance with the ROK. The North also insisted that 
nuclear materials and nuclear weapons should be dismantled in a 
separate fourth stage, instead of in the third stage of the 
agreed-upon three stages of nuclear dismantlement. Experts saw this 
North Korean move as an indication that Pyongyang has no intention 
of giving up its nuclear programs. (Dong-a) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
 
-North Korea 
 
The ROK media gave front-and inside-page play to North Korea's March 
5 statement making threats against ROK commercial airliners that fly 
over the East Sea during the March 9-20 ROK-U.S. joint military 
drills.  The ROK media widely cited the North's Committee for 
Peaceful Reunification of Korea as saying in a March 5 statement: 
"Security cannot be guaranteed for South Korean civil airplanes 
flying through our airspace and its vicinity, particularly over the 
East Sea, while the military exercises are underway."  The ROK media 
went on to report that the nation's two major airlines, Korean Air 
and Asiana Airlines, have decided to alter certain routes to move 
planes further away from the North. 
 
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo ran an inside-page report on former 
Assistant Secretary of State Morton Abramowitz's recent contribution 
to The National Interest, published by the Nixon Center, quoting him 
as saying that North Korean officials told Ambassador Bosworth and 
his delegation when they visited Pyongyang from Feb. 3-7 that North 
Korea would give up its nuclear ambitions if the U.S. abrogates its 
alliance with the ROK.  [Mr. Abramowitz was among those accompanying 
Ambassador Bosworth on his February trip to the North.] 
Mr. Abramowitz was further quoted as saying that the North also insisted 
that nuclear materials and nuclear weapons should be dismantled in a 
separate fourth stage, instead of in the third stage of the 
agreed-upon three stages of nuclear dismantlement.  Dong-a 
interpreted this North Korean move to indicate that Pyongyang has no 
intention of giving up its nuclear programs. 
 
-ICC Warrant for Sudan's al-Bashir 
 
Most of the ROK media gave attention to the International Criminal 
Court (ICC)'s March 4 issuance of an arrest warrant for Sudan's 
President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity 
in the six-year-old conflict in Darfur.  The ROK media noted that 
the warrant issued by the ICC was the first by the court against a 
sitting head of state and paved the way for potential indictments of 
other heads of state who have been mentioned as possible targets of 
war crimes investigations.  Conservative Chosun Ilbo and moderate 
Hankook Ilbo observed that the West, including the U.S. and the EU, 
welcomed the ICC move but that China, the Arab world and Africa 
protested.  Chosun headlined its story: "Beshir Warrant Splits the 
World."  Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun's headline read: "Sudan 
Expels Foreign Aid Agencies in Reckless Retaliation." 
 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
 
At Geumnam-ro 
(Gwangju Ilbo, February 25, 2009) 
 
By Park Jin-young 
 
Something unexpected occurred when pop singer, Cliff Richard, dubbed 
'Britain's Elvis Presley' began to sing at an auditorium of Ewha 
Womans University in October 1969.  Some women fans who went wild 
over his song threw their underwear and stockings at him.  At a time 
when the military regime ruled, this 'underwear happening' was a 
sensational phenomenon in the Korean society. 
 
Clinton's lecture at Ewha Womans University was a complete 'culture 
shock'. 
 
In Feb. 20, four decades since the incident happened, another global 
star, 'Madam Secretary', U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 
visited the Ewha auditorium.  Standing on the stage as the U.S. 
Secretary of State, she captivated two thousand female students 
instantly.  With a confident posture, and composed, dignified 
attitude that comes from her distinguished career as well as her 
rich and fulfilling experience, Secretary Clinton certainly proved 
that she is the original "Alpha girl" (a smart, elite girl who beats 
her male peers in everything -intelligence, sports, leadership etc.) 
 
 
Clinton who appeared amid roaring applause was more than a top-rated 
star.  She recounted her moments as a 'senior Alpha girl', the 
experience of being a 'number two' in Washington's political arena 
and female politician, and her personal story as a housewife and 
mother, delivering a distinctive speech that no other entertainer 
could hope to imitate.  It was a short one-hour lecture due to her 
two-day itinerary.  But Alpha girls in Korea were deeply touched, 
enough to feel almost a 'culture shock'. 
 
The first key word of her lecture that inspired the female students 
in the audience was "communication".  On a first note, she said, "I 
came to this university as a matter of destiny because Ewha and I 
share a connection.  My family on my father's side comes from 
Scranton, Pennsylvania which spells the same as Mary Scranton, the 
founder of Ehwa Womens University."  As the person of such 
consequence, who came so close to becoming the 'Madam President of 
the United States,' noted her special connections to Ewha and 
reached out to students with humble words, the atmosphere in the 
hall started to heat up. 
 
Secretary Clinton also stressed the importance of taking risks, 
drawing many nods from the audience.  She related a precious 
experience she had over the course of her career as a lawyer, first 
lady, and New York Senator.  She recollected that her bid for 
presidential candidacy was a valuable experience even though it 
ended up merely as a challenge, but she said that in retrospect she 
made a right choice.  Asked by a female student on how to get 
through difficulties in life, she responded, "I think that every one 
faces challenges in life.  But people live different lives depending 
on how they respond to difficulties.  They should go through hard 
times rather than give up.  They should have the discipline of 
gratitude." 
 
Clinton revealed her parental experience of being an ordinary 
mother.  Asked about her single daughter Chelsea, her face became 
radiant with a smile.  She said, "One of the most wonderful things 
about being a mother is watching your child grow into an adult whom 
you like and admire," stressing the importance of marriage and 
childbirth.  There is no need to say that words coming from the most 
influential working mom who also is a world leader serve as 
refreshing advice for Korean Alpha girls as they aspire to live as 
successful and confident working women. 
 
However, the highlight of the event was Mrs. Hillary Clinton herself 
as a "living history."  The 13-year-old girl, who wanted to become 
an astronaut, was frustrated by NASA's sexual discrimination. 
Still, she did not abandon her dreams and prepared for the future, 
and as a result, she was able to transform herself into the 
Secretary of State.  She said that we may not end up exactly where 
we started to head toward and added, "Do what you love" and "Prepare 
yourselves for the future." 
 
"Women, Follow Your Dreams" 
 
U.S. Secretary of State Clinton stayed in the ROK only for 21 hours. 
 Although there are different interpretations regarding the "gifts" 
that she brought with her to the ROK, one thing is certain.  That is 
the "Hillary syndrome."  Her message, "Whenever we face challenges, 
we should not give up our dreams," created a sensation among Korean 
women. 
 
In particular, for Alpha girls who do not grow into Alpha women for 
social and personal reasons, her message was more powerful than any 
other motivation.  If the Hillary syndrome is not just a passing fad 
and spreads to many Alpha girls, one of them just may become the 
ROK's "Madam Secretary" some day and travel around the world in the 
near future.  This seems to be the most valuable gift of Secretary 
Clinton for Korean women. 
 
Lee, Rudd Agree on Security Cooperation 
(Chosun Ilbo, March 6, 2009, Page 3) 
 
President Lee Myung-bak and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd 
issued a nine-point statement on global and security cooperation 
after meeting in Canberra on Thursday.  The two leaders agreed to 
start bilateral free trade negotiations in May. 
 
The two countries' relations have so far concentrated on economy and 
trade, but the statement provides an opportunity to enhance security 
and military cooperation, the Blue House said. 
 
In a press conference, Lee stressed the importance of security 
cooperation with Australia, which took part in the Korean War.  Rudd 
said the two countries will closely cooperate in the defense sector 
and establish themselves as firm allies in the Asia-Pacific region. 
 
 
Presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said, "The statement envisions 
the two countries cooperating in the non-proliferation regime 
pursued by the UN and other international agencies.  It's totally 
different from the [U.S.-led] Proliferation Security Initiative, 
which envisions searching ships carrying nuclear weapons and other 
materials in open seas." 
 
Lee and Rudd pledged cooperation on military exchanges and 
counter-terrorism.  They also agreed to cooperate on law enforcement 
to combat transnational crime, including trafficking in illegal 
narcotics and precursors, people smuggling and trafficking, money 
laundering, counterfeiting currency and arms smuggling, piracy and 
armed robbery against ships, and on the border security issues. 
Regarding FTA negotiations, the two leaders agreed that the FTA will 
increase bilateral trade significantly. 
 
 
* We have compared the English version on the website with the 
Korean version and made some changes to make them identical. 
 
 
FEATURES 
 
¶N. Korea Says It Will Give Up Nuclear Ambitions If the U.S. 
Abrogates Alliance with the ROK 
(Dong-a Ilbo, March 6, 2009, Page 10) 
 
It is reported that when Special Representative for North Korea 
Policy Stephen Bosworth paid a private visit to North Korea, North 
Korea told him that it would give up its nuclear ambitions only if 
the U.S. abrogates its alliance with the ROK. 
 
Former Assistant Secretary of State Morton Abramowitz, who 
accompanied Ambassador Bosworth, discussed their meeting with the 
North's chief delegate to the Six-Party Talks Kim Kye-gwan and other 
[North Korea] high-ranking officials in an article he contributed to 
the 'National Interest', a journal published by the Nixon Center. 
 
He said that, as preconditions for giving up its nuclear programs, 
North Korea suggested that the U.S. should drop its hostile policy 
toward the North, withdraw the nuclear umbrella for the ROK, and 
renounce its alliance with the ROK. 
 
In the past, North Korea has often insisted that the U.S. pull-out 
its troops from the ROK.  But it is rare that North Korea has called 
for abrogation of the U.S.-ROK alliance as a precondition for 
dropping its nuclear ambitions. 
 
Experts view that North Korea is hinting at its intention of not 
giving up nuclear ambitions. 
 
During a visit to the ROK, Secretary Clinton sent a clear message to 
the North that the U.S. will not directly talk to North Korea while 
bypassing the ROK.  Experts observe that this message was meant to 
forestall the North's attempt to destroy the U.S.-ROK alliance. 
 
North Korea also said that it will pursue denuclearization in four 
stages, not in three stages. 
 
In the existing three stages agreed under the Six-Party Talks, North 
Korea would shut down, disable and dismantle nuclear facilities. 
However, the North insisted that nuclear materials and nuclear 
weapons should be dismantled in a separate fourth stage, not in the 
third stage of nuclear dismantlement. 
 
Abramowitz said, "North Korea expressed its desire to dismantle 
nuclear weapons in a final stage."  He added, "The North hinted 
that, in a third stage, it will dismantle plutonium facilities in 
return for receiving a light water reactor." 
 
A diplomatic source said that North Korea showed its intention to 
not abandon its nuclear programs by proposing unacceptable 
preconditions.  It seems that the Six-Party Talks face a bumpy road 
ahead. 
 
 
Stephens 
1