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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 SEOUL 000568 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; April 8, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------- 
 
All 
Former President Roh Admits That His Wife Received Money from 
Taekwang Industrial Chairman Park Yeon-cha 
to Repay Debt 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan told the National Assembly yesterday 
that the ROKG will make diplomatic efforts to resume the Six-Party 
Talks after UN Security Council discussions on North Korea conclude. 
(Hankook) 
 
Amid mounting calls in political circles to send a special envoy to 
North Korea to facilitate inter-Korean talks, the Blue House said 
yesterday that it has no such plan. (Dong-a) 
 
There are mounting calls in ROK military and political circles for 
the ROK to extend its missile range to over 500km, because the ROK's 
current 300km-range missiles cannot strike military bases in the 
rear of North Korea. (Chosun) 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 
------------------ 
 
The UN Security Council yesterday failed to agree on a response to 
North Korea's latest rocket launch. (JoongAng, Hankook, Hankyoreh, 
Segye, Seoul, all TVs, Pressian) 
 
According to AP, the U.S. would likely find a compromise by 
thoroughly enforcing existing UN sanctions on North Korea. 
(JoongAng) 
 
According to Japan's Jiji news agency, Japan has 
decided to independently pursue sanctions on 
North Korea. (JoongAng, Hankyoreh, Segye) 
 
Gen. James Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of 
Staff, in an April 6 press conference, called into question North 
Korea's rocket science technology by asking: "Would you buy from 
somebody that had failed three times in a row and never been 
successful?" (Chosun) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
-North Korea's Rocket Launch 
-------------------------- 
Most of the ROK media gave play to yesterday's breakdown of UN 
Security Council discussions on a response to North Korea's latest 
rocket launch. 
 
Citing AP, right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo reported that the U.S. 
would likely find a compromise by thoroughly enforcing existing UN 
sanctions on North Korea.  JoongAng and other newspapers, including 
left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun and conservative Segye Ilbo, replayed 
a report by Japan's Jiji news agency that Tokyo has decided to 
independently pursue sanctions on North Korea.   Moderate Hankook 
Ilbo, meanwhile, quoted Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan's statement 
to the National Assembly yesterday that the ROKG will make 
diplomatic efforts to resume the Six-Party Talks after UN Security 
Council discussions on North Korea conclude.  Left-leaning Hankyoreh 
Shinmun headlined its editorial: "A Response to North Korea's Rocket 
Launch should be Conducive to Resuming the Six-Party Talks" 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo front-paged a report that there are 
mounting calls in ROK military and political circles for the ROK to 
 
SEOUL 00000568  002 OF 005 
 
 
extend its missile range to over 500km, given that North Korea's 
recent rocket launch has demonstrated its long-range capabilities 
and the limitations of the ROK's current 300km-range missiles.  The 
newspaper quoted former Vice Defense Minister Park Yong-ok as 
saying: "I think that the U.S. now has a weaker justification for 
restricting the range of Korea's ballistic missiles because of the 
North's latest rocket launch." 
 
 In a related development, moderate Hankook Ilbo commented in an 
editorial: "Strictly speaking, (the argument for enhancing our 
missile capability because of North Korea's rocket launch) is not an 
appropriate response to North Korea's long-range missiles.  North 
Korea is capable of attacking the entire ROK with its scud missiles 
from a range of 300 to 700km.  Accordingly, Taepodong-1 and 
Taepodong-2 missiles that range beyond Japanese territory do not 
pose any additional threat. ... At first glance, it seems desirable 
to increase the ROK's missile range to 500km to strike all of North 
Korea.  However, it is not wise to openly discuss the matter with 
the U.S. while causing potential disputes with neighboring 
countries.  Even without the missiles, the ROK military has strong 
deterrent capability." 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo noted April 6 press remarks by Gen. James 
Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, which 
called into question North Korea's rocket science technology.  Asked 
whether he thinks North Korea has made significant technological 
advances with this rocket launch, Gen. Cartwright was quoted as 
replying: "Would you buy from somebody that had failed three times 
in a row and never been successful?" 
 
Regarding growing calls in ROK political circles to send a special 
envoy to North Korea, conservative Dong-a Ilbo editorialized: "Now 
that North Korea is showing no sign of changing its attitude, we 
should focus our efforts on finding ways to impose sanctions on the 
North for its provocative rocket launch.  ... Even for the sake of 
international cooperation, the ROKG and the ruling party should not 
raise the issue of sending a special envoy to North Korea, which is 
aimed at pacifying and pampering the North. ... The first meeting of 
North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly will be held tomorrow to 
reconfirm Chairman Kim's third term.  In this situation, talk about 
dispatching a special envoy, which is neither feasible nor 
effective, will only contribute to "covering up" (condoning) North 
Korea's provocation and boosting its morale." 
 
-President Obama's Visit to Turkey 
---------------------------------- 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo led the international news section with a 
report on President Obama's speech to the Turkish parliament. 
Chosun reported that President Obama's "speech of reconciliation," 
broadcast live by Arab satellite TV, focused on repairing ties with 
the Muslim world in general--ties that were strained by the Iraq 
War.  Conservative Dong-a Ilbo headlined its story: "Obama's 
'Embrace of Islam;' Obama Says, 'The U.S. is not and will never be 
at War with Islam'" 
 
-President Obama in Iraq 
------------------------ 
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo carried a straight, inside-page 
article reporting that President Obama made a "surprise" visit to 
Iraq on April 7 on his way home from his European tour.  The 
newspaper reported that President Obama cheered up U.S. troops and 
met with Iraqi religious leaders. 
 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
------------------- 
 
THERE IS NO NEED TO SEND SPECIAL ENVOY TO NORTH KOREA IF THE 
DISPATCH IS TO APPEASE NORTH KOREA 
(Dong-a Ilbo, April 8, 2009, Page 31) 
 
After North Korea's rocket provocation, political circles are 
raising the idea of sending a special envoy to North Korea.  At 
yesterday's parliamentary to review government policies on 
 
SEOUL 00000568  003 OF 005 
 
 
diplomacy, unification and security issues, many ruling and 
opposition party lawmakers argued that the ROK should dispatch a 
special envoy to the North.  Grand National Party (GNP) Rep. Chung 
Doo-un mentioned former GNP Rep. Lee Jae-oh as a candidate during an 
April 6 radio interview.  While attributing strained inter-Korean 
ties to the ROKG's North Korea policy, the opposition party is 
making the case for the dispatch of a special envoy.  Democratic 
Party (DP) Rep. Yoo Sun-ho argued for the dispatch, urging the ROKG 
to "admit its policy failures over the past year, overhaul its 
national security strategies and foreign policy and security lineup, 
and revise its North Korea policy with a view to peaceful 
inter-Korean relations through dialogue." 
 
According to Rep. Yoo's logic, a special envoy is supposed to first 
apologize to North Korea for the Lee Myung-bak Administration's 
North Korea policy.  This is typical behavior of creating division 
in the ROK society, which ignores the fact that if Seoul had 
continuously provided generous handouts to Pyongyang, as it did over 
the past decade, it would have further invigorated Pyongyang's 
investment in military technology. 
 
Unification Minister Hyun In-taek said yesterday at the National 
Assembly, "We are not specifically considering sending a special 
envoy to North Korea."  Dispatching a special envoy at this stage 
contrasts with the ROKG's position that it will "respond sternly and 
resolutely" to North Korea's provocation.  In this sense, President 
Lee's April 3 statement in London that "We would send a special 
envoy to Pyongyang, if acceptable to the North" could give an 
impression that there is confusion in the ROKG's response. 
 
Now that North Korea is showing no sign of changing its attitude, we 
should focus our efforts on finding ways to impose sanctions on the 
North for its provocative rocket launch.  At the UN Security 
Council, the U.S. and Japan are making strenuous diplomatic efforts 
to impose sanctions on the North.  Even for the sake of 
international cooperation, the ROKG and the ruling party should not, 
at this time, raise the issue of sending a special envoy to North 
Korea, which is aimed at pacifying and pampering the North. 
Following the shooting death of an ROK tourist at Mt. Kumgang and 
the ban on border traffic to and from the Kaesong Industrial 
Complex, North Korea detained an employee of Hyundai Asan, (further) 
aggravating inter-Korean relations.  Now, with its rocket 
provocation, the North is rapidly bringing inter-Korean ties down to 
their lowest level.   Instead of sending a special envoy to the 
North, it would be better if we receive a North Korean envoy 
offering apologies. 
 
Although the rocket launch turned out to be a failure, the North is 
falsely telling its people, "The North has placed a satellite in 
orbit," and is enthusiastically praising Chairman Kim Jong-il.  The 
first eeting of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly will be held 
tomorrow to reconfirm Chairman Kim's third term.  In this situation, 
talking about dispatching a special envoy, which is neither feasible 
nor effective, will only contribute to "covering up" (condoning) 
North Korea's provocation and boosting its morale.  Although the Kim 
Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun Administrations sent a special envoy to 
the North several times, these actions ultimately helped the North 
to develop its nuclear and long-range missile developments and,  and 
the ROK people had to pay more taxes (for the special envoy). 
 
 
IT IS NOT TIME TO TALK ABOUT INCREASING MISSILE CAPABILITY 
(Hankook  Ilbo, April 8, 2009, Page 35) 
 
It seems that an argument for enhancing our missile capability due 
to North Korea's long-range rocket launch is increasingly gaining 
force.  In the National Assembly on April 6, Prime Minister Han 
Seung-soo said, "We need to review the ROK-U.S. missile guidelines 
which restrict our "missile sovereignty."  This statement stems from 
the logic that since North Korea's rocket flew 3. 200km despite 
technical flaws, the ROK, which possess only missiles with a range 
of less than 300km, should not tolerate this military imbalance any 
longer.  However, this is a somewhat demagogic and blind argument. 
This matter should not be talked about carelessly. 
 
SEOUL 00000568  004 OF 005 
 
 
 
"The ROK-U.S. missile guidelines" amended in 2001 prohibits the ROK 
from possessing missiles with ranges over 300km and warhead loads 
over 500kg.  The guidelines are based on the Missile Technology 
Control Regime (MTCR) aimed at curbing the spread of missile 
technology and parts.  But the U.S., averse to a missile arms race, 
used the MTCR as a pretext for restricting the ROK's military power. 
 Therefore, an argument for restoring our missile sovereignty has 
been surfacing largely from the military circles.  This (claim to 
missile sovereignty) is in the same vein as a claim to "nuclear 
sovereignty." 
 
However, strictly speaking, (the argument for enhancing our missile 
capability because of North Korea's rocket launch) is not an 
appropriate response to North Korea's long-range missiles.  North 
Korea is capable of attacking the entire ROK with its scud missiles 
from a range of 300 to 700km.  Accordingly, Taepodong-1 and 
Taepodong-2 missiles that range beyond Japanese territory do not 
pose any additional threat.  An argument that (our possession of 
long-range missiles) would make it difficult for the ROK to call on 
U.S. forces from Okinawa and Guam in case of emergency is not 
strategically wrong.  But calling for possession of long-range 
missiles comparable to the level of North Korea is not appropriate 
in many aspects. 
 
At first glance, it seems desirable to increase the ROK's missile 
range to 500km to strike all of North Korea.  However, it is not 
wise to openly discuss the matter with the U.S. while causing 
potential disputes with neighboring countries.  Even without the 
missiles, the ROK military has strong deterrent capability.  Also, 
the ROK is developing cruise missiles with a range of 1.500km which 
are exempt from the missile guidelines.  Moreover, KSLV-1, a space 
launch vehicle scheduled to be launched with a satellite mounted in 
July can fly 2,700km.  Essentially, military build-up should be 
pursued quietly. 
 
 
HOPING FOR A RESPONSE CONDUCIVE TO RESUMING SIX-PARTY TALKS 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, April 8, 2009, Page 27) 
 
The UN Security Council's discussions over North Korea's long-range 
rocket launch have stalled.  It looks as if the U.S. and Japan, 
which are calling for a hard-line response, stand opposed to China 
and Russia, which are supporting a moderate approach.  But it is not 
necessarily that way.  All parties except for Japan agree that the 
Six-Party Talks should be resumed early. 
 
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said that the UN 
Security Council's discussions will be focused on how to harmonize 
diplomatic efforts with pressures in order to engage North Korea in 
constructive cooperation again.  Even though the U.S. government 
declared North Korea's rocket launch to be a flagrant violation of 
international rules, the U.S. stressed that its ultimate goal is to 
strengthen (Six Party Talks) negotiations with North Korea.  This 
statement is not too different from the statement by Russia's 
Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin who said that an 
essential tool for resolving every situation is the Six-Party Talks. 
 In a similar stance to Russia, China stressed a "careful and fair 
response."  However, this attitude of putting a priority on a 
breakthrough in talks while sending a warning to North Korea would 
contradict the adoption of a Resolution sanctioning North Korea. 
 
Some people assess North Korea's "satellite" launch as a failure. 
The rocket's second stage fell far short of where the North had said 
it would land, and the third stage did not work properly in the 
first place.  On the morning of the launch date, North Korea 
notified the U.S., China and Russia of its rocket launch in advance, 
and prior to this, the North had announced a launch window for its 
rocket test and the coordinates at sea where it expected the first 
and second stages to splash down.  Although its efforts to display 
its long-range rocket technology were provocative, it can be said 
that the North went through the necessary steps.  The reason why 
each nation continues to hold open the possibility of dialogue (with 
North Korea) is because they judge that North Korea also wants 
 
SEOUL 00000568  005 OF 005 
 
 
negotiations. 
 
At this moment, Japan is the most vocal nation.  Japan seems to 
believe that by raising its voice, it can gain political benefits 
and create a public opinion favorable to arms buildup.  In fact, 
over the past several years, Japan seldom played a role at the 
Six-Party Talks.  It is inappropriate for the ROKG to show its 
intention to fall into step with Japan.  The ruling party's argument 
that the ROK should fully participate in the Proliferation Security 
Initiative (PSI), establish the Missile Defense (MD) system and 
increase its missile range is not different from the position of 
Japan, which only seeks its own national interests. 
 
When we only emphasize cooperation with the U.S. and Japan, we might 
forget what the cooperation is for.  Now is the time to resolve the 
consequences of the rocket launch as early as possible and make 
every effort to resume the Six-Party Talks. 
 
 
STEPHENS