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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 SEOUL 001006 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; June 24, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------- 
 
 
Chosun Ilbo 
President Lee Tells Education Minister Off for Inaction on Curbing 
Private Education Expenditure 
 
JoongAng Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun 
Hospital Switches off Life Support in Landmark Case; 
Patient will Continue to Receive Nutrition, Doctors Say 
 
Dong-a Ilbo 
Lawmakers from Main Opposition DP Stage Sit-in Protest against 
Ruling GNP's Unilateral Decision to Open a New Parliamentary 
Session 
 
Hankook Ilbo 
Tariffs to Intensify Again amid Fiscal Deficit 
Import Levies on Wheat and Other Goods to Return 
to Previous Levels; Criticism Growing that ROKG is Trying to Make up 
for Losses 
After Cutting Taxes for the Rich 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun 
National Intelligence Service Suspected of Involvement in Halting 
Government and Business Aid to Progressive Organizations 
 
Segye Ilbo 
Will President Lee's Return to "Centrist Pragmatism" Serve to Heal 
Division and Feud in Our Society? 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
Ambassadors from the U.S, China, Japan and Russia, four member 
countries of the Six-Party Talks on North Korea's nuclear program, 
in a June 23 seminar organized by a ruling Grand National Party 
(GNP) lawmaker shared the view that the nuclear issue should be 
resolved within the framework of the existing Six-Party Talks. 
(All) 
 
In a related development, China yesterday expressed opposition to 
the five-nation format proposed by the ROKG. China's Foreign 
Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said during a June 23 regular briefing: 
"China thinks it necessary to seek denuclearization on the Korean 
Peninsula through the Six-Party Talks." (All) 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 
------------------ 
 
According to the Japanese Coast Guard, North Korea has warned Japan 
to stay out of parts of its eastern coastal waters from June 25 to 
July 10, in an apparent sign that the North is close to firing more 
missiles. (JoongAng) 
 
The U.S. has successfully conducted a series of missile interception 
capability tests using its airborne laser system. The U.S. Missile 
Defense Agency (MDA) said on June 22 that its airborne laser system 
successfully downed enemy missiles shortly after their launch over 
the Pacific Ocean June 6 and 13. (JoongAng, Dong-a, Hankook, 
Hankyoreh, Seoul) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
-N. Korea 
--------- 
All ROK media gave wide attention to yesterday's seminar hosted by a 
ruling Grand National Party (GNP) lawmaker and attended by 
 
SEOUL 00001006  002 OF 007 
 
 
ambassadors from the U.S., China, Japan and Russia, four member 
countries of the Six-Party Talks on North Korea's nuclear program. 
 
The media reported that the ambassadors stressed the importance of 
resolving the nuclear issue within the existing framework of the 
Six-Party Talks.  Most media also reported that the ambassadors 
agreed on the need for sanctions against North Korea but differed on 
the intensity of sanctions.  According to media reports, the 
ambassadors from the U.S. and Japan stressed the importance of 
strictly enforcing UNSC Resolution 1874, but the Chinese ambassador 
said: "We supported Resolution 1874 but sanctions are not the 
purpose of the UNSC."  The Russian ambassador was also cited: 
"Further sanctions against North Korea should be strictly 
prescribed, and economic aid should continue for North Korean 
citizens." 
 
In a related development, all ROK media noted yesterday's press 
remarks by China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang that "China 
thinks it necessary to seek denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula 
through the Six-Party Talks."  Most media interpreted this as 
China's roundabout way of expressing its opposition to the five-way 
approach. 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo, in a commentary entitled "What Has Made 
Obama Turn Hard-line Toward N. Korea?," observed: "The Obama 
Administration seems determined to make North Korea's provocations 
an exemplary case in carrying out its global strategy.  With 
hard-line policies toward North Korea, the Obama Administration is 
sending a strong message to other countries, including Iran, not to 
miscalculate the U.S.' intentions." 
 
-Iran 
------ 
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized: "This Iranian situation 
has showed the limitations and discrepancies of a theocratic state 
controlled by Islam's supreme leader. ... Election results can be 
manipulated at any time if they are not palatable to the supreme 
leader. ... The only way to peacefully resolve the current situation 
is to hold a new election or to conduct a recount of the votes from 
the June 12 election.  If Tehran continues military crackdowns on 
protesters, it can temporarily thwart protests but cannot bring them 
to a permanent end." 
 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
------------------- 
 
"IRAN'S ANACHRONISTIC THEOCRACY IN CRISIS" 
(JoongAng  Ilbo, June 24, 2009, Page 42) 
 
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized (06/24): "This Iranian 
situation has shown us the limitations and discrepancies of a 
theocratic state controlled by Islam's supreme leader. ... Election 
results can be manipulated at any time if they are not palatable to 
the supreme leader. ... The only way to peacefully resolve the 
current situation is to hold a new election or to conduct a recount 
of the votes from the June 12 election.  If Tehran continues 
military crackdowns on protesters, it can temporarily thwart 
protests but cannot bring them to a permanent end." 
 
 
WHAT HAS MADE OBAMA TURN HARD-LINE TOWARD N. KOREA? 
(Chosun Ilbo, June 24, 2009, Page 30; Excerpts) 
 
By Editorial Writer Park Doo-sik 
 
There are deep strategic considerations behind President Obama's 
hard-line policy toward North Korea.  North Korea and Iran were part 
of an "Axis of Evil," along with Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Obama has 
chosen different policies toward the remaining two Axis of Evil 
members - pressure and blockade for North Korea and dialogue for 
Iran.  The Obama Administration seems determined to make North 
Korea's provocations an "exemplary case" in carrying out its global 
strategy.  With hard-line policies toward North Korea, the Obama 
 
SEOUL 00001006  003 OF 007 
 
 
Administration is sending a strong message to other countries, 
including Iran, not to miscalculate the "U.S.' intentions."  Many of 
the officials, who directly dealt with the North Korean issue under 
the Clinton Administration in the 1990s, are now serving as 
intermediate-level policymakers under the Obama Administration and 
leading this trend, which is being joined by the U.S. government and 
the people, too. 
 
The Lee Myung-bak Administration asked the Obama Administration to 
take "stringent countermeasures."  Obama has no reason to reject it. 
 An (ROK) government official noted, "The U.S. is now paying 
attention to how far the ROK will go in falling into step with the 
U.S."  During the first nuclear crisis in 1993, the U.S. criticized 
the Kim Young-sam Administration for making an equivocal argument in 
favor of a "firm, not too firm" approach toward the North.  If the 
current situation, in which a frame of pressure on and blockade of 
North Korea has already been set up, continues, a relaxed ROK could 
face an unexpected serious security crisis.  What matters is 
(whether we have) an exit strategy.  Does the Lee Myung-bak 
Government have a vision and a roadmap for this (situation)?  Has 
the ROK and the U.S. mapped out any plan for their talks with North 
Korea? 
 
Should the ROK pay a considerable price to turn the U.S., the 
world's greatest power, in a different direction?  In April and May 
1994 the U.S. intended to drop a nuclear bomb on North Korea but did 
not go ahead with it (considering its relations with the ROK.)  In 
fall of that year, the ROK watched the Geneva talks between the U.S. 
and North Korea at a distance and ended up paying billions of 
dollars for the construction of light water reactors under the 
Geneva Agreement.  How will the "North Korean drama" end this time? 
 
 
FEATURES 
-------- 
 
"LIFELINE OF 100-DAY OLD ADMINISTRATION WAS CUT... ANGER OVER LEE 
MYUNG-BAK WAS AT A PEAK" 
(Chosun Ilbo, June 19, 2009, Pages 1, 5) 
 
By Reporters Lee Myung-jin and Ryu Jung 
 
Prosecutors disclose the e-mails of PD Diary's scriptwriter. 
Four producers and a scriptwriter are indicted. 
"The media's critical comments are necessary, but they should be 
based on facts." 
 
Prosecutors have concluded that the PD Diary's distorted report 
about the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was made by 
producers, who distorted and fabricated the story with "political 
intentions."  The report sparked candlelight protests against U.S. 
beef imports last year, plunging the entire nation into chaos. 
 
 
Wrapping up a one-year investigation, the Supreme Prosecutors' 
Office announced that five MBC staffers - PD Diary chief producer 
Cho Neung-hee, producer and host Song Il-joon, producers Kim Bo-seul 
and Lee Choon-keun, and scriptwriter Kim Eun-hee - were indicted 
without detention on charges of defaming (government officials) and 
obstructing the business (of U.S. beef importers.) 
 
Prosecutors said that the suspects distorted truths according to 
their intentions, exaggerated the BSE risk (of U.S. beef), and 
disseminated false information on the ROKG's negotiation process on 
some 30 scenes shown in an April 29 episode titled "Is U.S. Beef 
Really Safe from BSE?".  As evidence showing that the PD Diary 
episode was not a genuine media report but a "political propaganda," 
prosecutors submitted e-mails written by PD Diary scriptwriter Kim 
Eun-hee.  The three e-mails, which were secured through a search and 
seizure that MBC denounced as "media suppression," were brief 
letters sent to Kim's acquaintances. 
 
In the e-mails, Kim openly confessed that, while looking for an item 
for PD Diary, she conducted a s-e-c-r-e-t investigation into the 
 
SEOUL 00001006  004 OF 007 
 
 
rival of her favorite candidate for the general election.  The 
e-mails were shocking to the extent that it even reminded us of 
"political murder" during the military dictatorship.  Below are the 
contents of Kim's e-mails disclosed by prosecutors (The words in 
parentheses are additional explanations for readers). 
 
June 13, 2008: "I Am Not Satisfied.  We Did Not Finish Hong 
Jung-wook" 
 
(Prosecutors explained that in the following e-mails, Kim told her 
acquaintance the substance of her conversation with producer Kim 
Bo-seul on the scene of a candlelight protest.) 
 
"She (Producer Kim Bo-seul) asked me, 'Ms. Kim, how do you feel 
seeing this for yourself?  Do you see what you have done?  Are you 
satisfied now?  Ha, ha." 
 
"So I answered, 'No, I am not.  We failed to kill Hong Jung-wook 
(Grand National Party Representative who was elected for Nowon 
District in Seoul in the April 9 general elections last year).' 
(...)  In my opinion, such a man must be eliminated as early as 
possible for (the sake of) our future generation and far-sighted 
education policy.  Above all, he beat Roh Hoi-chan (Chairman of the 
New Progressive Party who was defeated by Rep. Hong Jung-wook in the 
18th general election last year).  What a bastard." 
 
"I feel uneasy as the power of the public - the power which cut the 
political lifeline of the 100-day old administration, the power 
which cracked the indomitable castle of Dong-A Ilbo, Chosun Ilbo, 
and JoongAng Ilbo, and the power which achieved things that no media 
or group did before - seems to be disappearing." 
 
June 7, 2008: "That Was Because Anger over Lee Myung-bak Was at a 
Peak at That Time..." 
 
"I get really involved in making a program once or twice a year. 
Last year's Samsung scandal and this year's mad cow disease were 
among them.  Although it was pretty hard, I worked madly.  I think 
that was because anger over Lee Myung-bak was at a peak at that time 
after the general elections." 
 
"Because I am still very interested in the 'fate of Lee Myung-bak,' 
I have spent a lot of time watching the candlelight vigils and 
looking at (the online discussion forum) Agora on Dau." 
 
June 7, 2008: "I was also frantically investigating Hong Jung-wook 
..." 
 
"While looking for an item for PD Diary, I was already frantically 
investigating Hong Jung-wook in order to find ways to vent my anger 
over the results of the general election.  I frenetically searched 
for any tip.  I am not saying, however, that our broadcast always 
'targets' a specific person. ^^;" 
 
Prosecutors said that, in the episode, there were 10 intentional 
mistranslations or translation omissions, 11 distortions of 
objective truths, 7 deliberate omissions of explanations, which are 
needed in order to relay accurate information, one case of 
misleading viewers by exaggerating only one out of many possible 
causes of BSE, and one distortion through scene editing. 
 
PD Diary's distorted and false report was verified not only by the 
prosecution investigation but also by lower-court rulings.  On June 
17, the Seoul High Court ordered MBC to air corrections of false 
information, saying in its ruling, "Five statements, including that 
'There is a 94 percent probability that Koreans will contract the 
human form of BSE if they eat U.S. beef from BSE-infected cattle,' 
are false."  By running some corrections, PD Diary itself admitted 
its wrongdoings. 
 
When the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 
submitted an investigation request to the prosecution on June 20, 
2008, MBC and the producers of PD Diary argued, "It is suppression 
of freedom of speech and the press," and opposition parties, such as 
 
SEOUL 00001006  005 OF 007 
 
 
the Democratic Party and the Democratic Labor Party, echoed (this 
sentiment), politicizing this issue.  MBC union workers physically 
blocked prosecutors from exercising public authority, such as search 
and seizure, in protest. 
 
However, Jeong Byeong-du, a senior prosecutor in charge of this 
investigation, dismissed the MBC's argument, saying, "The media's 
critical comments on government policies are necessary, but they 
should be made based on accurate facts.  If they intentionally 
distort facts, they cannot be protected by law, and if a defamation 
of character is involved in the process, they will be punished for 
that." 
 
After former Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun and former Chief 
Negotiator of the Beef Deal Min Dong-seok were vehemently criticized 
by the PD Diary report for "acting (in a manner that) is as shameful 
as an act committed by a traitor to the country during the Japanese 
colonial rule," they faced death threats to their families.  This 
was also the same for other media outlets which tried to report on 
the BSE risks (of U.S. beef imports) in an objective and 
dispassionate manner. 
 
This prosecution investigation demonstrates that the situation a 
year ago, in which "madness" dominated society, was sparked by the 
twisted mindset and behavior of PD Diary producers, who tried to use 
the public broadcaster for political purposes and propaganda. 
 
 
LEE'S PROPOSAL FOR N. KOREA TALKS GETS CHILLY RECEPTION 
(Chosun Ilbo, June 24, page 4) 
 
By Reporter Kang In-seon 
 
Some countries who took part in Six-Party nuclear talks with North 
Korea seem skeptical of a new approach to the issue suggested by 
President Lee Myung-bak.  The proposal envisages the U.S. engaging 
in direct talks with North Korea after discussions with the ROK, 
China, Japan and Russia. 
 
China appears reluctant, and others are stressing the importance of 
the Six-Party framework but do not like the idea of the U.S. 
negotiating with the North on its own after five-way discussions. 
 
In a June 13 interview with the Wall Street Journal, President Lee 
Myung-bak said that maintaining the Six-Party Talks in the same way 
as in the past means repeating trials and errors, and is therefore 
unlikely to yield any tangible results.  President Lee proposed the 
U.S.-North Korea negotiation format. 
 
Under this format, the U.S., which represents five nations minus 
North Korea, is to negotiate with the North.  ROK diplomatic 
officials said that President Lee proposed this negotiation format 
and won support from President Obama. 
 
China, which nominally chairs the long-stalled Six-Party Talks, on 
Tuesday pointedly made no comment on the proposal.  When asked about 
China's position on the five-way approach, Foreign Ministry 
spokesman Qin Gang said, "China thinks it necessary to seek 
denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula through the Six-Party 
Talks." 
 
Asked about the five-way format during a seminar hosted by Grand 
National Party lawmaker Gu Sang-chan on Tuesday, Chinese Ambassador 
Cheng Yonghua merely said, "We are deeply interested in it."  China 
admits that the Six-Party Talks are in trouble but is still thinking 
of how to revive them, he added.  He went on to say that even though 
coordinating the opinions from six nations is challenging, China has 
never said that it would stop (making such an effort.) 
 
During the seminar, the ambassadors of China, Russia and Japan 
agreed that the issue should be solved within the Six-Party 
framework.  They seemed reluctant to accept the five-way format, 
apparently because they feel the new proposal envisages the ROK and 
the U.S. taking the initiative with their countries left on the 
 
SEOUL 00001006  006 OF 007 
 
 
sidelines. 
 
Denying press reports that the ROK and the U.S. had recently agreed 
on the five-way format, U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens said the 
U.S. is "thinking seriously" of a five-way approach within the 
Six-Party framework.  She said Washington wants to discuss with 
other participating nations how to pursue the five-way format within 
the Six-Party framework.  She noted, "There are a variety of 
possible discussion formats and (Washington) has very close contact 
with all parties."  Ambassador Stephens added that (the concerned 
parties) should not underestimate the Six-Party negotiation format. 
 
 
Japanese Ambassador Toshinori Shigeie said the new format appeared 
to have no concrete prospects at this moment.  Although it is the 
most realistic dialogue framework in the current circumstances, the 
Six-Party format needs to be overhauled in such a way that dissuades 
the North from repeating actions "running counter to the 
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he added. 
 
In a statement Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry supported the 
five-way format.  But Russian Ambassador Gleb Ivashentsov said it 
was necessary to avoid any move that could be detrimental to the 
Six-Party process.  He also stressed the need to find universally 
acceptable solutions to the issue through the Six-Party format. 
 
The U.S., Japan, China and Russia differed in their views on the 
pace of the talks.  The U.S. and Japan called for concurrent UN and 
individual sanctions against the North, while urging the other 
nations to strictly implement UN Security Council Resolution 1874. 
But China and Russia counseled patience and restraint. 
 
(We have compared the English version on the website with the Korean 
version and made some changes to make them identical.) 
 
 
AMBASSADORS CALL FOR STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF UNSC RESOLUTION AGAINST 
NORTH KOREA 
(Dong-a Ilbo, June 24, page 6) 
 
By Reporter Cho Su-jin 
 
On June 23, U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, Chinese Ambassador 
Cheng Yonghua, Japanese Ambassador Toshinori Shigeie and Russian 
Ambassador Gleb Ivashentsov shared the view that the latest UN 
Security Council resolution against North Korea over its second 
nuclear test should be strictly enforced.  The ambassadors, however, 
expressed different opinions on (imposing) additional sanctions 
other than the UN Security Council resolution.  They attended a 
session on the North Korean nuclear issue at the National Assembly, 
hosted by Grand National Party lawmaker Gu Sang-chan. 
 
U.S. Ambassador Stephens said that the U.S. will strictly enforce UN 
Security Council resolution 1874, adding that the U.S. "is committed 
to do what is necessary" unless the North stops its (provocative) 
actions.  Japanese Ambassador Shigeie said that it is important to 
deliver the message of the international community (to North Korea) 
that it will cut off funds for weapons of mass destruction. 
However, Chinese Ambassador Cheng noted, "China supported Resolution 
1874 but sanctions are not the purpose of the UNSC."  Russian 
Ambassador Ivashentsov said, "Further sanctions against North Korea 
should be strictly prescribed, and economic aid should continue for 
North Korean citizens." 
 
The ambassadors from the four nations also stressed the importance 
of reviving the Six-Party Talks process aimed at resolving the North 
Korean nuclear issue peacefully.  Ambassador Stephens said that the 
U.S. "has long insisted we want to engage all parties." 
 
 
AMBASSADORS FROM FOUR NATIONS DISCUSS NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR ISSUE 
(JoongAng Ilbo, June 24, page 5; Excerpts) 
 
By Reporter Baek Il-hyun 
 
SEOUL 00001006  007 OF 007 
 
 
 
At a seminar hosted by Grand National Party lawmaker Gu Sang-chan on 
June 23, ambassadors from U.S., China, Japan and Russia reaffirmed 
that North Korea's nuclear threats should be resolved diplomatically 
through the Six-Party Talks.  The four ambassadors shared the need 
for sanctions against North Korea over its second nuclear test but 
differed on the intensity of sanctions. 
 
 
AMBASSADORS SAY THAT NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR ISSUE SHOULD BE RESOLVED 
WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF SIX-PARTY TALKS 
(Hankook Ilbo, June 24, page 5; Excerpts) 
 
By Reporter Yang Jeong-dae 
 
On June 23, ambassadors from U.S., China, Japan and Russia stressed 
the importance of the Six-Party Talks aimed at resolving the North 
Korean nuclear issue peacefully and called on North Korea to return 
to the Talks quickly.  Meanwhile, they were cautious about the 
five-way talks proposed by President Lee Myung-bak. 
 
U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens said that the UNSC resolution 
should be strictly enforced... the door of dialogue is open. 
 
Ambassador Stephens said the U.S.-ROK joint vision statement 
reaffirms the U.S. commitment to "verifiable denuclearization of the 
Korean Peninsula." 
 
She added that the U.S. approach includes "work through the UN and 
appropriate measures."   Stephens said, "The U.S. is willing and 
eager to engage North Korea through diplomacy, including bilaterally 
within the framework of the Six-Party process." 
 
As for the two U.S. journalists detained in North Korea, Ambassador 
Stephen said, "As it is a humanitarian issue, it will be resolved in 
that light." 
 
 
 
STEPHENS