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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SEOUL 000429 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; March 19, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------- 
 
Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun, All TVs 
Terrorist Bombing May Have Targeted Koreans Yet Again; 
Blast Hits Convoy Carrying Korean Officials, 
Kin of Explosion Victims in Yemen 
 
Dong-a Ilbo 
Prosecution Secures Circumstantial Evidence that Former President 
Roh Moo-hyun Received 5 Billion Won from Taekwang Industrial 
Chairman Park Yeon Cha 
 
Hankook Ilbo 
Public Servants' Negligence and Indolence Waste Opportunity to 
Induce a Multinational Pharmaceutical Company 
toBuild 200 Billion Won R&D Center in ROK 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun 
Two Military Law Officers Dismissed for Filing a Petition with 
Constitutional Court against Defense Ministry's Ban 
on So-called "Disturbing Books" 
 
Segye Ilbo 
Police Irregularities Increasingly Serious 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
Unification Minister Hyun In-taek, in a March 18 forum in Seoul, 
said that North Korea's recent border restrictions were "damaging" 
hopes for a better future in inter-Korean relations, but he ruled 
out closing the Kaesong Industrial Complex in the communist state. 
(JoongAng, Dong-a, Hankook, Hankyoreh, Segye, Seoul) 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 
------------------ 
 
North Korea has rejected U.S. food aid and asked aid groups to leave 
the country by the end of this month. (Chosun, Dong-a, Hankook, 
Hankyoreh, Segye, Seoul, all TVs, VoiceofPeople) 
 
This North Korean move, coming amid escalating tensions on the 
Korean Peninsula over the North's plan for a rocket launch, seems 
aimed at getting the attention of the U.S. for bilateral talks. 
(Chosun) North Korea might also have preferred rejecting the aid to 
allowing the U.S. to suspend it as one of possible sanctions after 
its planned rocket launch. (Dong-a, Hankook, Seoul) 
 
North Korea's Premier Kim Yong-il and his Chinese counterpart Wen 
Jiabao held a meeting in Beijing yesterday to discuss resuming the 
Six-Party Talks and the North's launch of a "satellite." The two 
leaders also seemed to discuss a visit to China next month by North 
Korean leader Kim Jong-il. (Hankyoreh, Segye, all TVs, Pressian) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
-North Korea 
------------ 
 
The ROK media gave wide play to North Korea's rejection of U.S. food 
aid and its request for international aid groups to leave the 
country by the end of this month. 
 
Most of the ROK media noted that the latest North Korean move came 
amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula over the North's 
plan for a rocket launch, and analyzed that Pyongyang might have 
preferred rejecting the aid to allowing the U.S. to suspend it as 
one of possible sanctions after its planned rocket launch.  Chosun 
 
SEOUL 00000429  002 OF 003 
 
 
Ilbo wrote in the headline: "North Korea Using All Cards to Attract 
U.S. Attention and Have Bilateral Talks."  Dong-a Ilbo 
editorialized: "The food shortage in North Korea is extremely 
serious, though perhaps not as bad as in the 1990s, when millions 
are known to have starved to death. ... The North is spending 
astronomical amounts of money to develop nuclear weapons and conduct 
missile tests, with slogans such as, 'military-first politics' and 
'a strong and prosperous nation.' ... It is impossible to understand 
the North's call for a strong and prosperous country when its people 
are starving to death." Hankook Ilbo's editorial stated: "If 
Pyongyang cares about its citizens dying of starvation, the 
communist state should cooperate closely with the international 
community to resolve the food shortage.  To this end, strengthening 
the monitoring of food distribution is needed.  This measure is also 
needed to draw more aid from the international community, which is 
getting 'tired' of providing aid to the North.  Since the root cause 
of conflict lies in distrust, it is necessary for international aid 
agencies and NGOs to build trust with the North Korean 
authorities." 
 
Yesterday's meeting in Beijing between North Korea's Premier Kim 
Yong-il and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao received coverage. 
Most of the ROK media reported that the two leaders discussed 
resuming the Six-Party Talks and the North's planned launch of a 
"satellite."  The media also reported that the two leaders seemed 
likely to discuss a visit to China next month by North Korean leader 
Kim Jong-il. 
 
In a related development, Chosun Ilbo's Chinese affairs reporter 
wrote: "Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told Secretary Clinton when she 
visited China last month that China and the U.S. should not only 
'cross the river in a common boat' but also 'progress together hand 
in hand,' responding to Secretary Clinton's mention of an ancient 
Chinese story of warring feudal states 'crossing the river in a 
common boat.'  If this Chinese stance holds true, it would be 
natural for China to join with the U.S. to impose sanctions on North 
Korea if the North fires a missile.  However, China has thus far 
demonstrated an ambiguous attitude toward the North's missile issue. 
 Why can't Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and 
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi give North Korean leader Kim Jong-il 
clear and straightforward advice about his missile antics?  If China 
wants to become a strong nation riding in a common boat with the 
U.S., it should not speak different words with the same mouth." 
 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
------------------- 
 
Can North Korea Feed Its Citizens without U.S. Food Aid? 
(Hankook Ilbo, March 19, 2009, Page 35) 
 
The North Korean authorities have reportedly rejected additional 
U.S. food aid.  Although the North may have its reasons, spurning 
outside aid without any measures to resolve residents' starvation is 
irresponsible behavior.  Given its serious food shortage, Pyongyang 
cannot afford to have its own way.  If aid from the international 
community, including the U.S., is suspended, it is possible that a 
large number of people will go hungry as happened in the mid-1990s. 
 
 
If Pyongyang cares about its citizens dying of starvation, the 
communist state should cooperate closely with the international 
community to resolve the food shortage. To this end, strengthening 
the monitoring of food distribution is needed.  This measure is also 
needed to draw more aid from the international community, which is 
getting "tired" of providing aid to the North.  Since the root cause 
of conflict lies in distrust, it is necessary for international aid 
agencies and NGOs to build trust with the North Korean authorities. 
 
 
Playing Games While People Starve 
(Dong-a Ilbo, March 19, 2009, Page 31) 
 
North Korea is kicking out international aid organizations working 
 
SEOUL 00000429  003 OF 003 
 
 
in the North to monitor food distribution after rejecting U.S. food 
assistance.  This act is beyond comprehension.  Considering the dire 
food shortage in the North, Pyongyang has every reason to ask for 
international support but instead acts arrogantly.  The expansive 
delusion of the North under leader Kim Jong-il is extremely 
abnormal, as the communist regime puts on a fagade of being a strong 
country and conducts an offensive on the world despite its starving 
population. 
 
Analysts have a wide variety of analyses on Pyongyang's intent. 
Some say the North's rejection is intended to win U.S. sympathy 
given the South Korea-U.S. military exercise Key Resolve and strong 
warnings against Pyongyang's purported missile launch.  The North 
believed the Obama Administration would be more cooperative than its 
predecessor.  Others say the North seeks to preemptively counter 
international sanctions for its launch or express its anger over the 
monitoring of food distribution.  Whatever the reason, Pyongyang's 
move is an inhumane act of aggression depriving its people of the 
right to live. 
 
The food shortage in North Korea is extremely serious, though 
perhaps not as bad as in the 1990s, when millions are known to have 
starved to death.  Even a generous estimate suggests that the North 
can self-supply 4.2 million tons of grain this year, a far cry from 
its need of 5.2 million tons.  In certain regions, residents get a 
yearly food ration barely enough for three months.  Many barely 
survive on soup or simply starve to death.  Vitit Muntarbhorn, a 
United Nations envoy for human rights in North Korea, said 8.7 
million residents suffer from an extreme food shortage.  For this 
reason, the United States pledged in May last year to supply 500,000 
tons of food to the North over a one-year period.  But Pyongyang 
rejected that as well. 
 
The North is spending astronomical amounts of money to develop 
nuclear weapons and conduct missile tests, with slogans such as, 
"military-first politics" and "a strong and prosperous nation."  A 
Korean proverb says, "Eat before touring even Mount Kumgang (in 
North Korea)."  It is impossible to understand the North's call for 
a strong and prosperous country when its people are starving to 
death. 
 
North Korean media recently reported that Kim Jong-il visited 
Chollima General Steel Company in Nampo late last year and cited the 
lack of heat in the cafeteria.  He reportedly said after blasting 
senior officials, "If the cafeteria is cold, it is useless no matter 
how much nutritious food workers eat."  For Kim to demand heating at 
cafeterias while denying much-needed foreign food aid for his 
starving country is incredibly hypocritical and cheating the North 
Korean people. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
STEPHENS