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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 SEOUL 000588 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; April 10, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------ 
 
Chosun Ilbo, Hankyoreh Shinmun, Segye Ilbo, All TVs 
Taekwang Industrial CEO Park Yeon-cha: "I Gave $1 Million 
Cash in a Bag to Former President Roh through His Secretary" 
 
JoongAng Ilbo 
Former President Roh's Son is the Largest Shareholder of a Company 
that was Established with $5 Million President Roh's Nephew-In-Law 
Received from Taekwang CEO 
 
Dong-a Ilbo 
Prosecution Set to "Indict President Roh on Charges of Receiving $6 
Million in Bribes from Taekwang CEO" 
 
Hankook Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun 
Former President Roh Received $1 Million at Blue House 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
The ROKG criticized the Japanese government yesterday for approving 
another history textbook that allegedly glosses over Japan's wartime 
past.  Foreign Ministry Spokesman Moon Tae-young said in a 
statement: "We strongly protest the Japanese government's approval 
of the history textbook based on its erroneous history perception... 
We urge Japan to correct this immediately." (All) 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 
------------------ 
 
According to the April 9 issue of Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, the U.S. 
and Japan have given up on a UN Security Council resolution against 
North Korea's rocket launch and instead are seeking a non-binding 
"chairman's statement." (Hankyoreh) 
 
According to the (North) Korean Central News Agency, the first 
session of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly yesterday 
re-elected Kim Jong-il Chairman of the powerful National Defense 
Commission. (All) 
 
The North's rubber-stamp parliament also revised the country's 
Constitution for the first time in 11 years, and appointed Jang 
Sung-taek, Chairman Kim's brother-in-law touted as the second most 
powerful figure in the North, as a member of the National Defense 
Commission. These moves seemed intended to solidify Kim's rule and 
to lay the groundwork for a successor. (All) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
-North Korea 
------------ 
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun gave attention to an April 9 report 
by Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun that the U.S. and Japan have given up on 
a UN Security Council resolution against North Korea's rocket launch 
and instead are seeking a non-binding "chairman's statement." 
 
Yesterday's opening of the first session of North Korea's 12th 
Supreme People's Assembly received wide coverage.  Citing the 
(North) Korean Central News Agency, the ROK media reported that Kim 
Jong-il was re-elected Chairman of the powerful National Defense 
Commission.  The media also noted the rubber-stamp parliament's 
revision of the country's Constitution for the first time in 11 
years and the appointment of Jang Sung-taek, Chairman Kim's 
brother-in-law touted as the second most powerful figure in the 
North, as a member of the National Defense Commission.  The ROK 
media viewed these moves as intended to solidify Kim's rule and to 
 
SEOUL 00000588  002 OF 004 
 
 
lay the groundwork for a successor. 
 
Moderate Hankook Ilbo editorialized: "It remains to be seen whether 
the third Kim Jong-il regime will overcome internal and external 
challenges and maintain stability.  This is because uncertainty 
still lingers over who will succeed Kim Jong-il and because the 
North is unlikely to achieve its publicly stated goal of building a 
great, prosperous and powerful socialist nation by 2012, the 
centennial anniversary of founder Kim Il-sung's birth. ...  Another 
important factor in determining the success or failure of the third 
Kim Jong-il regime is how to manage relations with the U.S. and the 
ROK.  For the North ... to move toward a normal state, assistance 
and cooperation from the outside world is essential.  As long as the 
North insists on becoming a military power by developing nuclear 
weapons and missiles, it cannot expect any help from the 
international community. ... We hope that Chairman Kim will face up 
to reality and promptly make a wise decision to return to the 
Six-Party Talks and to break the deadlock in inter-Korean 
relations." 
 
U.S. to Engage in Nuclear Talks with Iran 
Most of the ROK media led their international news section with a 
report on the Obama Administration's April 8 announcement - that it 
will participate directly in multilateral talks with Iran over its 
suspect nuclear program - and Iran's positive response to the U.S. 
overture. 
 
Chosun Ilbo wrote in the headline: "Significant Progress Made in 
Realizing First-ever 'Seven-Party' Talks on the Iranian Issue." 
Moderate Hankook Ilbo's headline read: "The Mood is Ripe for 
Dialogue between U.S. and Iran." Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun 
headlined its article: "U.S. to Engage in Direct Nuclear Talks with 
Iran."  Conservative Segye Ilbo's headline read: "Obama to Resolve 
Iran's Nuclear Issue through Direct Dialogue."  Moderate Seoul 
Shinmun's headline said: "U.S Proposes Direct Talks, with Iran 
Opening a Fuel Manufacturing Plant to Mark National Nuclear Day." 
 
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo's Editorial Writer Bae Myung-bok 
observed: "It appears that the U.S. is intending to resolve the 
North Korean nuclear issue through the Six-Party Talks and the 
Iranian nuclear issue through the Seven-Party Talks.  This position 
is a drastic shift from the policy of the Bush Administration which 
shunned dialogue with Iran. ... This changed paradigm of U.S. 
diplomacy will likely affect U.S. North Korea policy soon.  If the 
dust settles over North Korea's failed long-distance rocket launch, 
the Six-Party Talks and U.S.-North Korea talks are expected to 
resume in earnest. ... This may lead to delicate conflicts between 
the U.S. and the ROK over the speed of the processes. ...  In an 
interview with foreign media during his visit to the U.K. last week, 
President Lee Myung-bak hinted at the possibility of sending a 
special envoy to North Korea.  This is an opportune time to do so. 
Why haven't we thought of taking preemptive action before we might 
be in a position of looking at the U.S. in bewilderment?" 
 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
------------------- 
OBAMA'S 'RESET DIPLOMACY' AND LEE MYUNG-BAK'S CHOICE 
(JoongAng Ilbo, April 10, 2009, Page 47) 
 
By editorial writer Bae Myung-bok 
 
U.S. President Barack Obama's diplomatic moves are dizzyingly bold. 
It seems that he is obsessed with making visible accomplishments in 
the economic and diplomatic areas within 100 days after taking 
office, as former President Roosevelt did during the Great 
Depression. 
 
Yesterday, the U.S. proposed to hold multilateral talks with Iran 
involving 7 countries, consisting of the 5 permanent members of the 
UN Security Council with Germany and Iran.  It appears that the U.S. 
is intending to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through the 
Six Party Talks and the Iranian nuclear issue through the 
Seven-Party talks.  This position is a drastic shift from the policy 
 
SEOUL 00000588  003 OF 004 
 
 
of the Bush Administration which shunned dialogue with Iran. 
 
A change in Obama's Iran policy was anticipated when he delivered 
surprising remarks to the Iranian people on March 20.  In a video 
message released in time for Iran's biggest holiday Nowruz, he said 
that the U.S. will pursue a sincere alliance with Iran based on 
mutual respect.  He proposed that the two countries put an end to 
any old antagonisms through constructive cooperation.  President 
Obama did not forget to praise the greatness of the Iranian 
civilization.  The U.S. invited Iran to an international conference 
regarding aid to Afghanistan which took place in Hague last week. 
Iran has shown a favorable response to Obama's repeated conciliatory 
gestures.  There are signs that the rift between the two countries 
is gradually being bridged. 
 
In his inaugural address, Obama extended a conciliatory gesture to 
hostile countries.  In fact, he is extending his hands throughout 
the world, seeking for others to release their fists.  This might be 
called a "high five diplomacy" which changes the paradigm of U.S. 
diplomacy. 
 
Obama's conciliatory gestures are seen everywhere.  He began his 
term by signing an executive order closing the detention camp at 
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  He sent a s-e-c-r-e-t letter to Russian 
President Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev, suggesting that if Russia 
cooperates in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue, the U.S. could 
review its plan to implement the Missile Defense (MD) system in 
Eastern Europe.  He expressed his willingness to have dialogue with 
Afghanistan's moderate Taliban.  The U.S. seems to be in a 
"honeymoon" period, similar to the era of the Kennedy 
Administration, with Western European countries that had borne a 
grudge against the previous U.S. (Bush) administration.  The U.S. 
dispatched a special envoy to the hostile state of Syria.  The U.S. 
announcement that it is not staging a war against Islam and will 
never (stage such a war) drew praise.  The U.S. is also beginning to 
engage in talks with its five-decade old enemy Cuba. 
 
Obama is not forcing his stance (onto other countries), but keeps a 
low profile while listening carefully.  Therefore, instead of 
speaking about democracy, he appears compliant to wishes of the 
international community regarding climate change, nuclear test bans 
and nuclear reduction.  He is improving America's image with smart 
power, which combines hard power with soft power, and speaks of a 
"new start" and a "reset." 
 
This changed paradigm of U.S. diplomacy will likely affect the U.S. 
- North Korea policy soon.  If the dust settles over North Korea's 
failed long-distance rocket launch, the Six-Party Talks and 
U.S.-North Korea talks are expected to resume in earnest.  Of 
course, it appears that the U.S. is in step with the ROKG, but 
shouldn't stop the movement towards a compromise.   This may lead to 
delicate conflicts between the U.S. and North Korea over the speed 
of the processes.  There is a possibility that the ROK may have 
little room to maneuver when trying to keep pace with the U.S. 
 
During the global economic crisis, China's status is increasingly 
growing.  This trend would leave the ROK sandwiched between the U.S. 
and China.  To overcome this situation, it is essential to improve 
inter-Korean relations.  Rockets are one thing, and talks are 
another.  In an interview with foreign media during his visit to the 
U.K. last week, President Lee Myung-bak hinted at the possibility of 
sending a special envoy to North Korea.  This is an opportune time 
to do so.  Why haven't we thought of taking preemptive action before 
we might be in a position of looking at the U.S. in bewilderment? 
 
 
NOTEWORTHY LAUNCH OF KIM JONG-IL'S THIRD TERM 
(Hankook Ilbo, April 10, 2009, Page 35) 
 
North Korea opened the third term of the Kim Jong-il regime 
yesterday by re-electing Chairman of the National Defense Commission 
Kim as its leader at the first session of the 12th Supreme People's 
Assembly.  Although the details were not given, the North reportedly 
revised its socialist constitution after 11 years and strengthened 
 
SEOUL 00000588  004 OF 004 
 
 
the National Defense Commission to bolster the third Kim Jong-il 
regime. 
 
Although the event was initially planned as a reaffirmation of Kim's 
military-first politics, there are other aspects worth giving 
attention to.  First of all, it is noteworthy that while celebrating 
a "satellite launch," the North flaunted the restoration of Kim's 
health and his control of the nation both internally and externally. 
 After all, the North's rocket launch in defiance of the 
international community was geared towards creating a favorable 
atmosphere in the North and solidifying the regime.  It is also 
notable that Chairman Kim's brother-in-law Jang Sung-taek, the first 
Vice-Director of the Workers' Party of Korea and reportedly the 
second most powerful figure in the North, was newly elected to the 
National Defense Commission, where he is expected to play a role in 
the succession issue. 
 
However, it remains to be seen whether the third Kim Jong-il regime 
will overcome internal and external challenges and maintain 
stability.  This is because uncertainty still lingers over who will 
succeed Kim Jong-il and because the North is unlikely to achieve its 
publicly stated goal of building a great, prosperous and powerful 
socialist nation by 2012, the centennial anniversary of founder Kim 
Il-sung's birth.  Although the North began conducting a campaign 
with revolutionary fervor and mobilizing its residents on a large 
scale earlier this year, the DPRK cannot overcome its serious 
economic difficulties, such as chronic food shortages, on its own. 
 
Another important factor in determining the success or failure of 
the third Kim Jong-il regime is how to manage its relations with the 
U.S. and the South.  For the North, which lost its momentum due to 
the rigidity of the regime and the inefficiency of socialism, to 
escape the pitfalls of starvation and move toward a normal state, 
assistance and cooperation from outside is essential.  As long as 
the North insists on becoming a military power by developing nuclear 
weapons and missiles, it cannot expect any help from the 
international community.  If the North seeks a better bargaining 
position by creating tension with its long-range rocket launch, it 
is a big miscalculation.  We hope that Chairman Kim will face up to 
reality and promptly make a wise decision to return to the Six-Party 
Talks and break the deadlock in inter-Korean relations. 
 
 
 
STEPHENS