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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 SEOUL 000552 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; April 6, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------- 
 
Chosun Ilbo 
¶N. Korea Fails to Put Satellite into Orbit... But Seems Successful 
in Doubling Missile Range 
 
JoongAng Ilbo, Dong-a Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, 
Hankyoreh Shinmun, Seoul Shinmun, All TVs 
¶N. Korea Pushes Ahead with Rocket Launch... 
North's Satellite Fails to Enter Orbit 
 
Segye Ilbo 
Emergency UN Security Council Meeting Convened 
to Discuss "Sanctions on North Korea" 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
President Lee Myung-bak, in a National Security Council meeting 
yesterday, called for the ROKG to respond in a "firm and resolute" 
manner to North Korea's rocket launch. Presidential Spokesman Lee 
Dong-kwan was quoted as saying: "We will, however, continue to wait 
for change from North Korea." (All) 
 
According to a Blue House official, the ROKG has decided to fully 
participate in the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), 
but that the timing is fluid. (Chosun, Segye) 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 
------------------ 
 
North Korea launched a multistage rocket yesterday, but failed to 
put a satellite into orbit. (All) 
 
The North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern 
Command, in a joint statement, said, "Stage one of the missile fell 
into the East Sea. The remaining stages along with the payload 
itself landed in the Pacific Ocean. No object entered orbit." (All) 
 
Because the impact point of stage two of the North Korean rocket has 
increased twofold compared to the 1998 Taepodong-1 missile launch, 
North Korea seems to have succeeded in expanding its missile range. 
(Chosun, Hankook) 
 
President Barack Obama issued a statement shortly after the North's 
rocket launch condemning the move as a "provocative act." President 
Obama also called for UN action. President Obama was quoted as 
saying: "Rules must be binding. Violations must be punished. Words 
must mean something." (All) 
 
President Obama, however, stopped short of expressing Washington's 
intention to impose direct sanctions on North Korea, suggesting that 
the U.S. might resolve the situation through various channels, 
including bilateral talks with North Korea and the Six-Party Talks 
or referring the issue to the UN Security Council. (Chosun) 
 
The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting earlier this 
morning (Korean time) to discuss a response to North Korea's rocket 
launch. The UNSC reconfirmed that the launch is a clear violation of 
UN Security Council Resolution 1718. (All) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
North Korea's Rocket Launch 
--------------------------- 
North Korea's rocket launch yesterday received prominent coverage, 
with most of the headlines in ROK newspapers reading:  "North Korea 
Fails to Put Satellite into Orbit." 
 
SEOUL 00000552  002 OF 010 
 
 
 
The ROK media widely quoted the North American Aerospace Defense 
Command and U.S. Northern Command's statement yesterday: "Stage one 
of the missile fell into the East Sea.  The remaining stages along 
with the payload itself landed in the Pacific Ocean.  No object 
entered orbit."  Conservative Chosun Ilbo quoted a senior Foreign 
Ministry official as saying: "It seems the second and third-stage 
rockets separated but fell not far from each other." 
 
Most of the ROK media, however, noted that the impact point of stage 
two of the North Korean rocket has increased twofold, compared to 
when a Taepodong-1 missile was launched in 1998, and surmised that 
North Korea seems to have succeeded in expanding the range of its 
missile.  The ROK media also said that the rocket launch, estimated 
to have cost North Korea $300 million, might have been designed to 
increase North Korea's leverage in negotiations with the U.S. and to 
consolidate North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's grip on power ahead of 
the first session of the (North's) 12th Supreme People's Assembly on 
April 9. 
 
The ROK media gave wide attention to President Barack Obama's 
statement shortly after the North's rocket launch, quoting him as 
condemning the North Korean move as a "provocative act."  President 
Obama was further quoted as stating: "Rules must be binding. 
Violations must be punished.  Words must mean something.  The world 
must stand together to prevent the spread of these weapons," while 
calling for action at the UN. 
 
In a related development, conservative Chosun Ilbo commented that 
President Obama stopped short of expressing Washington's intention 
to directly impose sanctions on North Korea, while interpreting this 
to suggest that the U.S. might resolve the situation through various 
channels, including bilateral talks with North Korea and the 
Six-Party Talks, as well as referring the issue to the UN Security 
Council.   Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo, meanwhile, noted an April 
3 remark by Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. Special Representative for 
North Korea Policy, that  "the door to dialogue with North Korea is 
always open," and wrote in the headline: "U.S. Prescription for 
North Korea Likely to be Sanctions for the Short Term and Dialogue 
for the Mid and Long Term." 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized today: "Even if North Korea 
failed to put a satellite into orbit, this launch demonstrated that 
North Korea's ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) capability 
has reached a certain level. ... North Korea claimed to have 
succeeded in conducting a nuclear test in 2006... The ROK, by 
contrast, has given up its nuclear armament capability under the 
Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and is restrained by the 
Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) from developing missiles 
with the range of more than 300km and payload of more than 500kg. 
In other words, the strategic imbalance between the two Koreas in 
nuclear weapons and missiles are becoming increasingly serious. ... 
The ROKG, while preparing for sanctions against North Korea's 
missile launch and the ensuing negotiations with the North in the 
short term, should come up with a fundamental strategy of how to 
protect national security under the threat of a North Korea armed 
with nuclear and long-range missile capabilities." 
 
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized: "Since the U.S. is 
expressing willingness to have dialogue with North Korea, in 
addition to taking a tough response (to the rocket launch), the U.S. 
is expected to have contact with the North sometime.  The problem is 
that even if bilateral talks are held between the two countries, no 
one knows when the North will get what it wants.  In fact, most of 
the economic aid to the North comes from ROK and Japan.  ...  The 
prospect for an accelerated arms race in North East Asia will also 
adversely affect North Korea.  Japan, which has viewed the North's 
rocket launch as a good opportunity to build up its military power, 
will set out to increase its military spending, inevitably prompting 
China to respond in the same way...  In this case, it is evident 
that China would not condone North Korea's position as much as it 
does now.  The North's missile launch might lift its "national 
status" but will ultimately not benefit the country." 
 
 
SEOUL 00000552  003 OF 010 
 
 
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo editorialized: "North Korea will not stop 
here.  Now that it has a nuclear test and rocket launch under its 
belt, it is likely to move on to developing a nuclear warhead small 
enough to be carried by a missile.  A second nuclear test is also 
probable.  The first step in resolving the security threat triggered 
by Pyongyang's provocation is for the international community to 
reinforce the principle of 'no reward for bad behavior.'  It is 
regrettable that China and Russia simply urged calm and controlled 
responses immediately after yesterday's launch without citing the 
provocation's violation of Resolution 1718. ...  Their inept action 
could even invite further provocations by Pyongyang.   The U.N. 
Security Council, which will hold a meeting today, must draft 
specific measures to make it clear to the North that its 
provocations will run counter to its interests. " 
 
Moderate Hankook Ilbo editorialized: "The international community 
needs to refrain from overreacting to the North's rocket launch. 
The international community should make sure that North Korea pays a 
price for its rocket launch while keeping the Six-Party Talks on 
track and continuing to pursue talks.   North Korea's missile issue 
should be eventually resolved through dialogue and negotiations. 
Given this, it is noteworthy that President Obama reiterated that 
the Six-Party Talks, aside from the rocket launch, should be an 
important framework for denuclearizing and easing tensions on the 
Korean Peninsula and discussing other issues related to the Korean 
Peninsula. " 
 
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun's editorial echoed Hankook Ilbo's 
views, arguing that this missile launch by North Korea should be 
used as a catalyst for strengthening negotiations on North Korea's 
nuclear and missile problems. 
 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
------------------- 
 
 
QUESTIONABLE RESPONSE OF CHINESE PRES. HU 
(Dong-a Ilbo, April 4, 2009, Page 27) 
 
With only a few days left before North Korea's expected launch of a 
Taepodong-2 missile, Chinese President Hu Jintao said, "Parties 
involved should stay coolheaded and avoid action that could further 
complicate the situation."  This came around the same time as a 
comment from Japanese Prime Minister Aso Taro that said, "We need to 
send a strong message to North Korea via a resolution of the U.N. 
Security Council."  China has not sent a message to the North but 
expressed its concerns over the responses of related parties.  Hu's 
lopsided comments go against international efforts to deter the 
North from threatening peace and security in Northeast Asia.  It is 
really disappointing that China's leader has taken a defensive 
attitude in dealing with international security issues. 
 
A missile launch will violate U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718. 
 On October 14, 2006, the council considered the North's nuclear 
test conducted five days earlier a serious threat to peace.  The 
council unanimously adopted a resolution urging North Korea to 
suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program. 
Permanent council member China also supported the resolution.  If 
Beijing keeps standing idle, it is avoiding its responsibility.  It 
makes no sense that China, a permanent council member representing 
Asia, should turn a blind eye to the North, which poses a threat to 
the Korean Peninsula as well as to Northeast Asia. 
 
China has repeatedly promised to play a constructive role in 
maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula.  If it means what it 
says, Beijing needs to be more proactive as Pyongyang`s missile 
launch draws near.  As a permanent member of the Security Council, 
it needs to remind the North that a missile launch will violate a 
council resolution. 
 
Though North Korea says it just plans to test a satellite, China 
cannot deny that the North`s rocket is a ballistic missile.  Chinese 
silence could encourage the North to go one step further.  In other 
 
SEOUL 00000552  004 OF 010 
 
 
words, Beijing's lukewarm stance could spur Pyongyang to wrongly 
believe that it faces no sanctions even after its missile launch 
since (the Security Council is divided in its opinion over the 
launch.) 
 
China's response is in stark contrast to that of Russia.  In his 
summit with U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday, Russian 
President Dmitry Medvedev expressed concerns over the North's 
missile launch and urged Pyongyang to exercise restraint.  If the 
council fails to prevent the launch of the long-range missile and 
impose sanctions on the North afterwards, no country will respect 
the resolution. 
 
China is gloating over its status as a G20 member, along with the 
U.S. Does it deserve that when it does nothing to prevent the North 
from launching a missile?  It is doubtful that Beijing even deserves 
a seat on the U.N. Security Council if it makes no effort to deter 
Pyongyang from threatening peace. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING 
(JoongAng Ilbo, April 4, 2009, Page 34) 
 
North Korea has started fueling its long-range rocket, beginning the 
countdown for the planned launch. It could happen any day now. 
 
ROK President Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President Barack Obama met on 
Thursday in London and reached an understanding that the launch 
would violate United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718, and 
that a unified response would be required from the international 
community.  Obama said the UN Security Council was preparing for new 
sanctions against the North. 
 
As we have emphasized the importance of firm collaboration between 
Seoul and Washington in dealing with a North Korean rocket launch, 
we hope that the agreement between the top leaders of the two 
countries will lead to action. 
 
Some raised concerns about Korea-U.S. cooperation, as the American 
administration had made remarks that sounded as if it had accepted 
the North's possession of nuclear weapons, and that the launch was 
for a satellite and therefore the rocket would not be intercepted. 
 
Likely aware of this concern, President Obama made it clear that 
neither nuclear possession nor proliferation would be accepted from 
the North.  He also declared that North Korea wouldn't be able to 
create a crack in the long alliance between Seoul and Washington. 
He promised to have transparent and comprehensive discussions with 
the ROK on implementing a North Korea policy.  He made a timely 
remark when Pyongyang wanted to tighten its ties with Washington 
while isolating Seoul. 
 
As for approval of a Seoul-Washington free trade agreement, a 
pending issue for both countries, President Obama said Washington 
intends to move the deal forward.  This remark gave us the 
expectation that the U.S. stance on the FTA may become more 
flexible, although we need to wait and see. 
 
As for the war in Afghanistan, the U.S. president said it was an 
issue that the international community needed to pay attention to as 
a whole, and officially asked for Korea's support. 
 
The issues that Korea and the U.S. had beneath the surface have 
finally emerged, and we need to make our stance clear. 
 
The two leaders met only for around 30 minutes while they attended 
the G20 summit meeting, so it would have been difficult to discuss 
all pending issues thoroughly.  But Obama invited Lee to the U.S. in 
June.  We hope that the U.S. will have finished examining its North 
Korea policy by then and that the ROK will have also decided its 
position on the issues, so the summer meeting will be deeper and 
 
SEOUL 00000552  005 OF 010 
 
 
more thorough. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
A NEW SECURITY LANDSCAPE 
(JoongAng Ilbo, April 6, 2009, Page 46) 
 
North Korea's rocket launch has shifted the security landscape on 
the Korean Peninsula, because we now must accept the reality that it 
is capable of launching intercontinental ballistic missiles. 
 
North Korea carried out a nuclear test in 2006.  Whether it 
succeeded is still in doubt.  However, some people believe North 
Korea is equipped with nuclear warheads.  North Korea's armaments 
are rapidly strengthening (leading to the possibility of a military 
imbalance.)  In this regard, we are confronted with mounting 
security threats.  The people and the government should recognize 
the growing threat and take the lead in tackling these changes. 
 
First, we should thoroughly examine (the possibility of) 
reorganizing our military capacity, which is now mainly comprised of 
conventional forces such as fighters, field guns, tanks and naval 
vessels.  The North's asymmetrical strategy cannot be dealt with 
through conventional forces alone.  Thus the ROK should also develop 
our nuclear and long-range missile capacity. 
 
At present, our military deterrent mainly depends on America's 
pledge to defend us and on its nuclear umbrella, which proved 
trustworthy during the Cold War. 
 
But since the Cold War, the North's ability to wage asymmetrical war 
has increased.  Against this backdrop, measures should be devised to 
re-examine America's nuclear umbrella pledge and to guarantee the 
implementation of the pledge in an emergency. 
 
Second, we should redouble our efforts to dissuade North Korea from 
strengthening its military forces in the long term. 
Anti-proliferation endeavors led by the U.S. over the past two 
decades have resulted in a series of failures. 
 
But the failures so far should not lead us to give up.  Rather, it 
is time to draw up a new plan with more dimensions.  We must develop 
ways to offset our security concerns, to satisfy America as our 
closest ally, and to reassure neighboring countries such as Japan, 
China and, of course, North Korea itself. 
 
Finally, the people must adjust their perspective and become aware 
of the changed security landscape on the Korean Peninsula.  The 
reaction of the ROK people to the provocative acts by North Korea 
over the more than six decades since the tragedy of national 
division has been confused, swinging wildly between numbness and 
hypersensitivity and caught up in the ideological divisions of 
Korean society. 
 
The Korean government and civil society should make concerted 
efforts to gain a precise perception of our security situation and 
prevent public opinion from disrupting national policy.  In 
particular, an active policy approach by the government would be of 
great significance. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
VIOLATING NK'S OWN INTERESTS 
(Dong-a Ilbo, April 6, 2009, Page 31) 
 
North Korea went ahead yesterday with its provocative rocket launch, 
which poses a grave threat to world peace and stability.  If the 
long-range rocket that flew over Japan and landed in the Pacific 
Ocean carried nuclear weapons, it could attack not only the ROK and 
Japan but also the U.S. A North Korean attack using weapons of mass 
 
SEOUL 00000552  006 OF 010 
 
 
destruction and such weapons' proliferation have become a real 
threat to world peace.  It is like living with a ticking time bomb 
planted by the North. 
 
All discussion on the launch should begin with the act being a 
violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718.  Given the 
North's past behavior as a rogue country and the danger inherent in 
the rocket launch, the international community must respond wisely 
to this provocation even if the projectile turns out to be a 
satellite as the North claims.  Otherwise, the world will bring 
misfortune on itself.  The U.N. Security Council slapped Pyongyang 
with U.N. Resolution 1695 for launching its Taepodong-1 missile in 
July 2006.  U.N. Resolution 1718 was passed after the North 
conducted its nuclear test in October the same year, under the 
authority of Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which defines actions 
against breach of peace or an act of aggression.  The world body 
will defy its raison d`tre if the North's worsening provocations 
are left unsanctioned. 
 
North Korea will not stop here.  Now that it has a nuclear test and 
rocket launch under its belt, it is likely to move on to developing 
a nuclear warhead small enough to be carried by a missile.  A second 
nuclear test is also probable.  These scenarios have been put 
forward by the daily Chosun Sinbo, the communist regime's de facto 
mouthpiece.  The paper also mentioned that Pyongyang could sell its 
long-range missile technology overseas.  The North Korean Foreign 
Ministry warned that putting the launch up for discussion at the 
U.N. Security Council could end the Six-Party Talks and reverse 
denuclearization efforts.  Against this backdrop, the world must no 
longer tolerate such brazen acts by the peace-threatening regime. 
 
The first step in resolving the security threat triggered by 
Pyongyang's provocation is for the international community to 
reinforce the principle of "no reward for bad behavior."  U.S. 
President Barack Obama denounced the launch as a "provocative act" 
that poses a threat to all countries.  Japanese Prime Minister Taro 
Aso also said the launch cannot be "disregarded."  The European 
Union urged the North to end its ballistic missile and nuclear 
programs while condemning the launch.  The U.N. Security Council, 
which will hold a meeting today, must draft specific measures to 
make it clear to the North that its provocations will run counter to 
its interests. 
 
It is regrettable that China and Russia simply urged calm and 
controlled responses immediately after yesterday's launch without 
citing the provocation's violation of Resolution 1718.  The 
irresponsible initial response by Beijing and Moscow reflects the 
divide within the Security Council.  Their inept action could even 
invite further provocations by Pyongyang.  As permanent members of 
the council, they should place world peace before their relations 
with the North. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
ROK PEOPLE SHOULD STAND UNITED AGAINST NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR AND 
MISSILE PROGRAMS 
(Dong-a Ilbo, April 6, 2009, Page 31) 
 
North Korea's long-range missile launch reconfirmed the failure of 
the past decade's Sunshine Policy, under which the Kim Dae-jung and 
Roh Moo-hyun Administrations provided North Korea with about 5 
billion dollars of aid including unofficial assistance.  The Lee 
Myung-bak Administration should learn a lesson from the results of 
the Roh Moo-hyun Administration's consistently lukewarm response to 
North Korea's July 2006 missile launch.  Even a week afterwards, 
President Roh did not say a single word against the missile launch. 
He was also passive regarding the adoption of a U.N. resolution. 
Following the example of the Kim Dae-jung Administration, the Roh 
Administration continued to provide generous handouts while being 
sensitive to the North Korea's every need, but was only rewarded 
with the North's nuclear test three months later on October 9, 
¶2006. 
 
SEOUL 00000552  007 OF 010 
 
 
 
In launching the long-range rocket in addition to its ongoing 
nuclear testing, North Korea abandoned any pretense for its 
opposition of the ROK's full participation in the Proliferation 
Security Initiative (PSI).  Although North Korea has threatened to 
construe the ROK's participation in the PSI as a declaration of war, 
the ROKG must actively consider pursuing the PSI and the Missile 
Defense (MD) system at an early stage to protect its people and 
territory.  The ROKG should make every effort to build up its 
defense capabilities against North Korea's nuclear and missile 
threats by strengthening the ROK-U.S. combined defense system. 
 
While North Korea was launching a rocket yesterday, the UN World 
Food Programme announced that, "Approximately 40 percent of North 
Korea's population, an estimated 8.7 million people, will urgently 
need food assistance."  With the 3 billion dollars that reportedly 
went into the rocket launch, North Korea could have bought 1 million 
tons of rice, sufficient to feed its people for an entire year. 
 
 
MINIMIZING AFTEREFFECTS OF NORTH KOREA'S LAUNCH 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, April 6, 2009, Page 23) 
 
Yesterday, North Korea carried out the launch of its 
Kwangmyongsong-2 experimental communications satellite.  This has 
been a highly unfortunate situation since, in so doing, North Korea 
has spurned demands from the international community to halt the 
launch.  However, it is fortunate that a military clash that has 
resulted from the matter, such as a launch of an interception 
missile.  It is now time to work towards resolving this incident and 
minimizing its negative repercussions. 
 
The governments of several nations have now confirmed that the 
object launched by North Korea was a satellite and not a ballistic 
missile, which is what North Korean authorities have been asserting 
all along.  However, this does not mean that the international 
community is any less concerned about the rocket technology used to 
launch the satellite, as it could easily be transformed into 
long-distance missile technology.  Consequently, this launch 
indicates that North Korea possesses intercontinental ballistic 
missile technology.  North Korea is not trusted within the 
international community as a result of its actions to date regarding 
nuclear weapons and missiles.  The mere fact that a nation that has 
already carried out a nuclear test possesses such a technology 
presents a latent threat to the entire global community.  This 
launch will only further deepen this distrust. 
 
The United Nations (UN) Security Council has begun discussions on a 
plan to respond to this launch.  The position of the ROK, the U.S. 
and Japan is that the launch represents a clear violation of 
Security Council Resolution 1718. Adopted in October 2006 in the 
immediate aftermath of North Korea's nuclear test, this resolution 
demands that North Korea "suspend all activities related to its 
ballistic missile program."  Hard-liners in the U.S. and Japan are 
calling for either stronger sanctions against North Korea based on 
this resolution or for the adoption of a new resolution.  But 
adopting such a course of action will not be easily accomplished, as 
Russia and China do not feel that a satellite launch should be 
subject to sanctions. 
 
There is also a considerable contingent that maintains that this 
launch should not be taken as an act of provocation by North Korea, 
but should be instead used as a catalyst towards strengthening 
discussions on nuclear weapons and missiles.  The unreasonable 
pursuit of sanctions in this situation could make the situation 
worse and get us away from the original intention of containing a 
threat, perhaps even get in the way of the goal of denuclearizing 
the Korean Peninsula and building peace. 
 
North Korea's launch smacks strongly of an attempt to secure 
internal unity in advance of the first meeting of the 12th Supreme 
People's Assembly.  This means that North Korea's system is so weak 
that its leaders feel they must use this launch to demonstrate their 
power to their people.  An immoderate response from related nations 
 
SEOUL 00000552  008 OF 010 
 
 
could fan this feeling of crisis within North Korea's leadership and 
send the situation spinning in the wrong direction.  Meanwhile, 
Japan's exchange with North Korea registered on war-attack mode, 
aiming to garner support for turning Japan into a militarized 
superpower, and appeared every bit as much for political show as 
North Korea's actions. 
 
The possibility to resolve the North Korean nuclear weapons and 
missile issue through dialogue and negotiation still exists.  What 
we do not want is for the nations involved to respond by narrowing 
the possibility for discussions to take place, thereby becoming 
complicit in North Korea's mistake of carrying out a satellite 
launch.  There are times when pressure on North Korea is needed, but 
we must not forget that it is discussion that solves problems in the 
end.  At this time, the Barack Obama Administration in the U.S. has 
not yet finished reexamining its North Korea policy.  It must avoid 
endangering the tone of its policy of wanting comprehensive 
discussions with North Korea by responding in haste to the satellite 
launch. 
 
Now that North Korea has launched its long-distance rocket, we 
cannot continue on as if nothing has happened, but we should try to 
minimize the aftereffects.  If the situation surrounding this 
satellite launch drags on, it is likely that everyone will suffer. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
¶N. KOREA'S MISSILE CAPACITY IS A SERIOUS THREAT 
(Chosun  Ilbo, April 6, 2009, Page 31) 
 
North Korea launched a long-range rocket at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday 
from Musudan-ri, North Hamgyong Province.  North Korea claimed it 
was now one of 10 countries in the world to independently put a 
satellite into orbit.  The government said the rocket was a 
satellite launch vehicle judging from the trajectory of the 
projectile, so even if the satellite failed to enter orbit, North 
Korea demonstrated to the world that its intercontinental ballistic 
missile technology has reached a certain level. 
 
The cost of the rocket launch is estimated at more than US$300 
million. That's more than 10 percent of North Korea's annual trade 
volume, which is less than $3 billion.  The country suffers a 
shortage of more than a million tons of food a year.  North Korea 
could have bought enough food overseas at last summer's prices to 
cover the entire shortfall for three years for the money it spent on 
the rocket launch.  It invested huge sums of money while starving 
its own people to proclaim its might to the world as its new 
parliament convenes on Thursday to reappoint Kim Jong-il as chairman 
of the National Defense Commission. 
 
With the launch, North Korea may possibly be saying it now has a 
long-range missile capable of reaching Alaska.  In 2006, North Korea 
claimed to have conducted a nuclear test.  We are witnessing the 
unfolding of the nightmare scenario of a nuclear-equipped North 
Korea with long-range missile capabilities. 
 
The ROK, meanwhile, has relinquished its ability to possess nuclear 
weapons and is prohibited from developing missiles that can travel 
more than 300 km and carry more than a 500 kg warhead, according to 
the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Missile Technology 
Control Meeting.  The ROK and North Korea are seeing a growing 
strategic imbalance in terms of nuclear weapons and missile 
technology. 
 
The ROK, the U.S. and Japan condemned the rocket launch and vowed 
that North Korea would face "corresponding measures."  In an 
emergency statement during his visit to the Czech Republic, U.S. 
President Barack Obama said North Korea had isolated itself even 
further by committing this provocative act and added that this issue 
would be addressed by the UN Security Council. 
 
The UNSC did begin discussing the launch on Sunday afternoon and a 
 
SEOUL 00000552  009 OF 010 
 
 
spokeswoman for China, which has veto power as a permanent member, 
said, "We hope related parties stay calm and exercise restraint, 
appropriately deal with it and together maintain peace and stability 
in this region."  China and Russia are said to support the handling 
of the rocket launch by the UNSC but oppose sanctions.  How would 
they react if the ROK and Japan now seek to secure advanced nuclear 
weapons and missile technology in the name of self-defense?  Will 
they want to remain calm and exercise restraint? 
 
The U.S. held talks with North Korea when it first launched a 
long-range missile in 1998 and right after the nuclear test in 2006. 
 Stephen Bosworth, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea 
Policy, said Saturday that North Korea policy must combine carrots 
and sticks, adding that Washington was in close consultation with 
the ROK and Japan so that the North can return to the Six-Party 
Talks after the missile issue calms down. 
 
North Korea then demanded the payment of $1 billion a year in return 
for giving up its missile program, on top of a deal signed in Geneva 
in 1994 during the Clinton Administration guaranteeing two 
light-water reactors and 500,000 tons of heavy oil each year. 
 
While coming up with short-term measures such as sanctions, our 
government must devise a fundamental strategy to protect the 
nation's security and to manage North Korea's threat from its 
nuclear and long-range missile capabilities.  As seen in the unusual 
Kim Jong-il succession controversy following his health problems 
last year, the North faces an unstable period where anything can 
happen at any time.  It would be terrifying should North Korea veer 
out of control while equipped with nuclear weapons and missiles. 
 
The ROK-U.S. alliance is based on a mutual defense treaty drawn up 
in 1953, when the prospect of a nuclear and missile-equipped North 
Korea was beyond the wildest imagination.  Moreover, that alliance 
has deteriorated over the past 10 years.  The two allies must come 
up with a basic set of measures to deal with a North Korea that now 
claims to have developed long-range missile technology on top of its 
nuclear capability. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
NORTH KOREA SHOULD PAY THE PRICE FOR ROCKET LAUNCH 
(Hankook  Ilbo, April 6, 2009, Page 39) 
 
Yesterday North Korea launched a rocket.  The ROK cannot but voice 
regret and disappointment over North Korea's reckless action which 
was taken in defiance of international warnings.  After an emergency 
National Security Council meeting presided by President Lee 
Myung-bak, the ROKG issued a statement strongly condemning the 
North's missile launch as a provocative act threatening the 
stability and peace of the Korean Peninsula and North East Asia. 
U.S. President Obama, on his tour of Europe, declared North Korea's 
rocket launch to be a violation of (international) rules and called 
for a strong international response.  Leaders of the U.S. and 27 
European countries adopted a joint statement criticizing North 
Korea. 
 
North Korean media repeatedly reported that a Eunha-2 rocket 
successfully put satellite Kwangmyongsong-2 into orbit within 9 
minutes and 2 seconds after being launched.  But the ROKG and the 
U.S. military officials assess that the rocket's second stage along 
with the third stage fell into the Pacific Ocean and the satellite 
failed to enter orbit.  North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, who 
intended to demonstrate the North's missile capability by launching 
a long-range rocket before its new parliament convenes, suffered a 
setback. 
 
However, the fact that the second and third stages flew over 3, 
000km carries great significance.  This proves that North Korea has 
almost acquired intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) 
capabilities.  That is why, even if the rocket the North fired is 
confirmed as a satellite, North Korea is not likely to avoid 
 
SEOUL 00000552  010 OF 010 
 
 
sanctions and criticism from the international community. 
 
The United Nations called an emergency session at the request of 
Japan on April 6 within less than 24 hours after the North's rocket 
launch, and discussed countermeasures.  Most of the UN Security 
Council members, such as the U.S. and France, argue that the rocket 
launch is a blatant violation of the UN Security Council Resolution 
1718 and that measures should be taken accordingly.  The level of 
sanctions will depend on the attitude of China and Russia. 
Measures, in some form, will be taken to hold North Korea 
responsible for its rocket launch.  North Korea threatened to 
boycott the Six-Party Talks even if the UN Security Council attempts 
to discuss its rocket launch.  However North Korea's excessive 
backlash against the international community's unanimous voice could 
isolate North Korea further. 
 
The international community needs to restrain from overreacting to 
the North's rocket launch.  The international community should make 
sure that North Korea pays a price for its rocket launch while 
keeping the Six-Party Talks on track and continuing to pursue talks. 
 North Korea's missile issue should be eventually resolved through 
dialogue and negotiations.  Given this, it is noteworthy that 
President Obama reiterated that the Six-Party Talks, aside from the 
rocket launch, should be an important framework for denuclearizing 
and easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and discussing other 
issues related to the Korean Peninsula. 
 
The ROKG should maintain close cooperation with related countries 
such as the U.S., falling into step with the international 
community.   The ROKG made the right decision when it said it will 
bide its time regarding full participation in the Proliferation 
Security Initiative  (PSI), unlike its original position that it 
will participate fully in the PSI aimed at preventing proliferation 
of weapons of mass destruction .  Full participation in the PSI 
should be decided cautiously by comprehensively considering 
discussions in the UN Security Council and future inter-Korean 
relations.  The ROKG should respond firmly but needs to exert 
farsighted prudence and wisdom. 
 
 
NORTH KOREA SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR ROCKET LAUNCH 
(JoongAng  Ilbo, April 6, 2009, Page 46) 
 
North Korea intends to flaunt its "long-range capability" to U.S. 
President Obama, who has managed to disregard the North Korean 
nuclear issue since his inauguration, and bring him back to 
bilateral dialogue.  Since the U.S. is expressing willingness to 
have dialogue with North Korea, in addition to taking a tough 
response (to the rocket launch), the U.S. is expected to have 
contact with the North sometime.  The problem is that even if 
bilateral talks are held between the two countries, no one knows 
when the North will get what it wants.  In fact, most of the 
economic aid to the North comes from the ROK and Japan.  In 
particular, there are countless number of obstacles in the path 
before North Korea can (realize) its desire to "win recognition as a 
nuclear state and diplomatic normalization with the U.S."  Even if 
the U.S. decides to grant the North its wishes by any chance, the 
ROK and Japan will never allow it. 
 
The prospect for an accelerated arms race in North East Asia will 
also adversely affect North Korea.  Japan, which has viewed the 
North's rocket launch as a good opportunity to build up its military 
power, will set out to increase its military spending, inevitably 
prompting China to respond in the same way.  This would put China in 
an embarrassing position.  (If this occurs,) it is evident that 
China would not condone North Korea' position as much as it does 
now.  The North's missile launch might lift its "national status" 
but will ultimately not benefit the country. 
 
 
 
STEPHENS