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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 SEOUL 000490 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; March 26, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------- 
 
Chosun Ilbo, Segye Ilbo, All TVs 
North Korea Positions Taepodong-2 Missile on Launch Pad 
 
JoongAng Ilbo 
Ambassador to Japan Kwon Chul-hyeon Allegedly Received Money from 
Taekwang Industrial Chairman Park Yeon-cha 
 
Dong-a Ilbo 
Current Chief Justice of High Court, Two Former Senior Police 
Officials and Two Senior Prosecutors Suspected of Receiving Bribes 
from Taekwang Industrial Chairman Park 
 
Hankook Ilbo 
Taekwang Industrial Chairman Park 
"Prepared Six Money Envelopes" for 2006 Meeting 
with Busan Regional Tax Office Officials 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun 
Prosecution Arrests Producer of MBC's "PD Diary" Program over 
Reports on "Mad Cow Disease" 
 
Seoul Shinmun 
Taekwang Industrial Chairman Park Admits Providing Money 
to Three Judges and Prosecutors 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
According to ROK and U.S. authorities, Presidents Lee Myung-bak and 
Barack Obama will hold their first summit on April 2 in London on 
the sidelines of the Group of 20 meeting. (All) 
 
Chen Bingde, Chief of Staff of China's People's Liberation Army, 
visited Seoul yesterday. During an interview shortly before his 
visit to Seoul, he said that Seoul's participation in the (U.S.) 
missile defense system will trigger a new arms race. (Chosun) 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 
------------------ 
 
According to a diplomatic source in Seoul and the U.S. and Japanese 
media, North Korea has positioned a Taepodong-2 missile on the 
launch pad at its facility in Musudan-ri in the east of the country. 
(Chosun, Dong-a, Hankyoreh, Segye, Seoul, all TVs, Pressian) 
 
A diplomatic source in Seoul said yesterday: "A U.S. reconnaissance 
satellite detected a missile installed on the launch pad at the 
Musudan-ri launch site. Technically, it'll be possible to launch it 
in three or four days." (Chosun) 
 
U.S. officials, meanwhile, said: "While two stages of the missile 
can be seen, the top is covered with a shroud supported by a crane." 
(Segye) 
 
Chosun Ilbo noted that since North Korea's installation of the 
projectile on the launch pad has come five days earlier than 
expected, North Korea might launch what it says is an "experimental 
communications satellite" this weekend, instead of between April 4 
and 8 as it mentioned in its notification. (Chosun) 
 
Chief ROK Delegate to the Six-Party Talks Wi Sung-lac was quoted as 
saying after a March 24 meeting in Beijing with his Chinese 
counterpart Wu Dawei: "I told China that the North's neighbors need 
to act in unison to counter North Korea's expected launch," adding: 
"But there was a difference in opinion on how far we should go." 
(JoongAng) 
 
 
SEOUL 00000490  002 OF 005 
 
 
Acting State Department Spokesman Robert Wood said during a March 24 
regular briefing: "North Korea has assured us that the two American 
reporters detained in the North would be well-treated pending an 
investigation." (Dong-a, Hankyoreh, Segye, VoiceofPeople) 
 
The two American detainees, meanwhile, are said to be under 
investigation for "alleged espionage." Hankyoreh Shinmun viewed this 
double-faced North Korean move - of giving an assurance about the 
detainees' safety while investigating them on espionage charges - as 
designed to urge Washington to hold high-level talks with Pyongyang. 
(Hankyoreh) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
- North Korea 
------------ 
 
Citing a diplomatic source in Seoul and the U.S. and Japanese media, 
most of the ROK media gave front-and inside-page play to a report 
saying that North Korea has positioned a Taepodong-2 missile on the 
launch pad at its facility in Musudan-ri in the east of the 
country. 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo quoted a diplomatic source in Seoul as 
saying yesterday that a U.S. reconnaissance satellite detected a 
missile installed on the launch pad at the Musudan-ri launch site, 
adding: "Technically, it'll be possible to launch it in three or 
four days."  Conservative Segye Ilbo, meanwhile, cited U.S. 
officials as saying: "While two stages of the missile can be seen, 
the top is covered with a shroud supported by a crane." 
 
Chosun Ilbo noted that the North's installation of the projectile on 
the launch pad came five days earlier than expected, and speculated 
that North Korea might launch what it says is an "experimental 
communications satellite" this weekend, instead of between April 4 
and 8 as it mentioned in its notification.  Chosun also said that 
talks would likely pick up speed between the countries in the 
Six-Party Talks on a response to the North's imminent launch but 
that it would be difficult to impose sanctions on North Korea at the 
UN Security Council level, given China's position that has stressed 
(each country's) right to peaceful space use." 
 
In a related development, right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo quoted chief 
ROK Delegate to the Six-Party Talks Wi Sung-lac as saying after a 
March 24 meeting in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei: 
"I told China that the North's neighbors need to act in unison to 
counter North Korea's expected launch. There was a difference in 
opinion on how far we should go."  JoongAng headlined its story: 
"Grim Prospects for 'UN Security Council to Impose Sanctions' 
against North Korea's Missile Launch" 
 
Moderate Hankook Ilbo editorialized: "The Sep. 19 Joint Statement, 
which spells out the principle and responsibility for North Korea's 
denuclearization, promises security guarantees to the North in 
return for dismantling its nuclear programs.  It is shamelessly 
absurd for North Korea to link the Joint Statement with U.N. 
Security Council sanctions, which might follow its planned launch. 
It is also deceitful for the North to deny that its genuine aim is 
to develop and show off its long-distance ballistic missile 
capabilities.  If North Korea does not want sanctions from the 
international community, it should give up the planned launch. ... 
It could be self-destructive to threaten other countries in the 
Six-Party Talks and the international community with the boycott of 
the Six-Party Talks.  If the framework of the Six-Party Talks 
collapses, it would also not be advantageous for North Korea." 
 
Regarding the two American journalists detained in North Korea, 
most of the ROK media quoted acting State Department Spokesman 
Robert Wood as saying during a March 24 regular briefing: "North 
Korea has assured us that the detainees would be well-treated 
pending an investigation."  The media also reported that the two 
Americans are under investigation for "alleged espionage." 
 
SEOUL 00000490  003 OF 005 
 
 
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun, in particular, viewed this 
double-faced North Korean move - of giving an assurance about the 
detainees' safety while investigating them on espionage charges - as 
designed to urge Washington to hold high-level talks with Pyongyang. 
 
 
 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
------------------- 
 
NORTH KOREA'S SHAMELESS THREAT TO BOYCOTT THE SIX-PARTY TALKS 
(Hankook  Ilbo, March 26, 2009, Page 35) 
 
North Korea unleashed a threat that it would not participate in the 
Six-Party Talks if the United Nations Security Council imposes 
sanctions on the North after the launch of Kwangmyongsong-2 which it 
is planning to carry out early next month.  A North Korean Foreign 
Ministry spokesman released a statement that any hostile act 
committed in the name of the U.N. Security Council would negate the 
September 19 Joint Statement.  The spokesman added that if the 
September 19 Joint Statement is breached, there is no meaning to the 
Six-Party Talks. 
 
The September 19 Joint Statement, which spells out the principle and 
responsibility for North Korea's denuclearization, promises security 
guarantees to the North in return for dismantling its nuclear 
programs.  It is shamelessly absurd for North Korea to link the 
Joint Statement with U.N. Security Council sanctions which might 
follow its planned launch.  The statement by the North Korean 
Foreign Ministry reiterated that Kwangmyongsong-2 is a satellite. 
The statement also added that to deny the right to peacefully use 
outer space runs counter to the spirit of mutual respect and 
equality in the September 19 Joint Statement. 
 
However, it is deceitful for North Korea to deny that its genuine 
aim is to develop and show off its long-distance ballistic missile 
capabilities.  North Korea needs to be more frank and wise.  If 
North Korea does not want sanctions from the international 
community, it should give up the planned launch.  Or if it really 
wants to go ahead with a missile launch, it should accept sanctions. 
 It could be self-destructive to threaten other participating 
countries in the Six-Party Talks and the international community 
with the boycott of the Six-Party Talks.   If the framework of the 
Six-Party Talks collapses, it would also not be advantageous for 
North Korea. 
 
It is natural for the ROKG to closely consult with other nations 
about their joint countermeasures after North Korea's rocket launch. 
 However, the ROKG should take a cautious approach to sanctions.  A 
stringent response is needed, but it will only be meaningful if it 
wins agreement from related nations and the international community. 
 Seoul also needs to take note of growing concern in the U.S. over 
an excessive response.  If we punish Pyongyang's deviant behavior 
only superficially, it is rarely effective.  We need to have 
patience and take long-term measures to fundamentally improve the 
North's internal structure. 
 
 
FEATURES 
-------- 
 
¶N. KOREA INSTALLS ROCKET ON LAUNCH PAD 
(Chosun Ilbo, March 26, 2009, Front Page) 
 
By Reporter Lim Min-hyuk 
 
North Korea has installed a rocket on the launch pad in Musudan-ri, 
North Hamgyong Province.  The launch is expected in early April. 
 
A South Korean government official on Wednesday said a U.S. 
reconnaissance satellite on Tuesday detected a missile installed on 
the launch pad at the launch site in Musudan-ri.  "Technically, 
it'll be possible to launch it in three or four days," he added. 
 
SEOUL 00000490  004 OF 005 
 
 
 
Experts had predicted the North would install the projectile on the 
launch pad this coming weekend at the earliest given the lead time 
because it had notified international organizations of a plan to 
launch what it says is an experimental communications satellite 
between April 4 and 8. 
 
But the official said it seems unlikely that North Korea will change 
the launch date given expected repercussions from the international 
community. 
 
It is not confirmed yet whether the missile is of the same type as 
the Taepodong-2 which it launched in 2006, or whether it is an 
improved, longer and larger version of the earlier missile.  The 
missile is reportedly a 33 to 35 m-long three-stage rocket.  Its 
maximum range is believed to be 7,000 to 8,000 km. 
 
With the North's missile launch on the horizon, Six-Party countries, 
such as the ROK, the U.S., and Japan, are expected to accelerate 
their efforts to discuss countermeasures.   Japan will reportedly 
issue an order to destroy a Taepodong-2 booster in case it falls 
into Japanese territory or waters.  Japan's Asahi Shimbun reported 
on March 25 that an order to "destroy a ballistic missile" will be 
issued in accordance with the Self-Defense Forces Law at a National 
Security Council meeting, which will be held on March 27 under the 
chairmanship of Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso. 
 
(We have compared the English version on the website with the Korean 
version and added the last paragraph to make them identical.) 
 
 
"NK PLEDGES TO TREAT TWO DETAINED US JOURNALISTS WELL" 
(Dong-a Ilbo, March 26, 2009, Page 8) 
 
By Washington Correspondent Ha Tae-won 
 
U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood said yesterday, "The 
North has assured us the detainees will be well-treated," commenting 
on two American journalists detained by North Korea. 
 
In a regular briefing, Wood said, "We have formally requested, 
through our protecting power in Pyongyang, the Swedish embassy, that 
the Swedish government be provided with consular access to these two 
Americans." 
 
The United States, which lacks diplomatic ties with North Korea, 
delivers its opinion to the North via the Swedish Embassy in 
Pyongyang. 
 
Wood described the case as "very sensitive," adding, "We`re trying 
to work this issue diplomatically and the less said from here, the 
better." 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
PROSECUTION ARRESTS PRODUCER OF MBC'S "PD DIARY" PROGRAM OVER 
REPORTS ON "MAD COW DISEASE" 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, March 26, 2009, Front Page) 
 
By Reporters Suk Jin-hwan and Kwon Kwi-soon 
 
The Supreme Prosecutors' Office arrested Producer Lee Choon-keun of 
MBC's "PD Diary" over reports on mad cow disease and started an 
investigation into other producers of the program on March 25.  As 
the prosecution has now taken a hard line on this case, concern and 
criticism about suppressing the freedom of the press is expected to 
arise once again. 
 
The Supreme Prosecutors' Office obtained an arrest warrant for 
Producer Lee and arrested him in front of his house in Mapo-gu, 
Seoul, at around 10:40 p.m.  Prior to this, Prosecutor Chung 
Byung-doo of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office implied on the 
 
SEOUL 00000490  005 OF 005 
 
 
afternoon of March 25 that he would start an investigation, saying, 
"Since the producers (of PD Diary) are disobeying summons, the 
remaining option is to summon them once again and start an 
investigation."  Although the four producers and two writers 
involved in the report on mad cow disease did not answer their 
summons, the prosecution obtained an arrest warrant for Producer Lee 
and arrested him after resuming the investigation into this case. 
This can be interpreted as evidence of the prosecution's decision to 
take a hard line approach toward this case. 
 
Reportedly, Producer Kim Bo-seul is on the list of those to be 
subpoenaed and the police are seeking to take her into custody. 
 
The MBC labor union denounced the prosecution's investigation into 
"PD Diary" as suppression of the media, vowing to take strong 
countermeasures.  Union leader Lee Gun-haeng said, "We will hold a 
labor union emergency general meeting on March 26 and stage a 
protest in front of the Supreme Prosecutor's Office.  Union leader 
Lee said that it is absurd to argue that a program criticizing the 
government policy damaged the honor of the chief policy-maker and it 
is evidently suppression of the media. 
 
Jang Hyung-won, the Secretary at the Union Labor's Democratic 
Broadcasting Practice Committee said, "If the prosecutors attempt to 
confiscate original manuscripts, or coercively make an arrest within 
the company building, the labor union and company will unite 
together to block it." 
 
Previously, then-Senior Prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutor's 
Office Lim Su-bin, who was a chief investigator into this case, 
faced conflicts with the prosecutors' leadership due to his 
insistence that the accused producers are innocent.  Later, he 
resigned, causing controversy.  Last month, the Prosecutors' Office 
unexpectedly reassigned this case to another section of the Supreme 
Prosecutor's Office, showing its willingness to conduct a full 
reinvestigation. 
 
 
STEPHENS