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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 SEOUL 000905 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; June 8, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------- 
 
Chosun Ilbo 
Clinton: "(U.S.) Will Consider Relisting N. Korea as State Sponsor 
of Terrorism" 
 
JoongAng Ilbo 
Former President Kim Dae-jung: "Punitive Measures are Necessary 
against N. Korea, but the Door to Talks with N. Korea Should Stay 
Open" 
 
Dong-a Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo 
Obama: "N. Korea's Actions Have Been 
Extraordinarily Provocative" 
 
Clinton: "(U.S.) Will Consider Relisting N. Korea as State Sponsor 
of Terrorism" 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun 
"Let's Retrieve Seoul Plaza with Voters' Power," a Plaza that has 
Become a Symbol of "Stifled Freedom of Assembly" 
 
Segye Ilbo 
Obama: "We are Not Intending to Continue 
a Policy of Rewarding 
(N. Korea's) Provocation" 
 
Seoul Shinmun 
Opening National Assembly Session in June Remains Up In the Air, 
with Major Political Parties at Odds over Death of Former President 
Roh 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
---------------------- 
 
President Lee Myung-bak, in a June 6 visit to an air base in Osan, 
Gyeonggi Province, said that if the ROK and the U.S. cooperate 
closely, North Korea cannot act rashly. He also said that there will 
be no compromise on "things that threaten our people and security." 
(All) 
 
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and Secretary of State Hillary 
Clinton, in their June 5 meeting in Washington, agreed to document 
Washington's extended provision of a nuclear umbrella over the ROK 
during the upcoming June 16 ROK-U.S. summit in Washington. 
(JoongAng, Segye, KBS) 
 
Foreign Minister Yu was quoted during a June 5 briefing with ROK 
correspondents: "The extended deterrence is a comprehensive notion 
that not only includes a nuclear umbrella but also military 
deterrence through conventional forces." Regarding recent U.S. media 
reports on North Korea's circulation of counterfeit notes, Foreign 
Minister Yu said: "I understand that new evidence has emerged 
recently." (JoongAng) 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS 
-------------------------- 
 
President Barack Obama, in a June 6 press conference in France, said 
that North Korea's actions over the last several months have been 
extraordinarily provocative. He went on to say: "We are not 
intending to continue a policy of rewarding provocation." (All) 
 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, when asked on ABC's 
"This Week" on June 7 about a letter from some senators asking 
President Obama to relist the North as a state sponsor of terrorism, 
said: "We are going to look at it. There's a process for it" (All) 
 
A draft UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution against North Korea 
made public on Saturday reportedly includes a provision that would 
 
SEOUL 00000905  002 OF 007 
 
 
allow UN member countries to stop and search suspicious North Korean 
ships even in international waters. (Chosun, JoongAng, Dong-a, 
Segye) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
-President Obama' Cairo Speech 
------------------------------ 
On Saturday (June 6), newspapers and MBC TV continued to cover 
President Obama's June 4 speech at Cairo University. 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo, in an inside-page article entitled "'Obama 
Doctrine' Opens New Horizon for Relations with the Middle East," 
commented that Obama's speech citing the 'Koran' was exceptional and 
that the West and the Arab world were united in welcoming the 
speech. 
 
Moderate Hankook Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun, left-leaning Hankyoreh 
Shinmun and conservative Segye Ilbo, on the other hand, reported on 
mixed reactions from within the Arab world.  Hankook wrote in the 
headline: "Sincere and Frank Attitude... New Beginning Has Opened; 
What Is Important is Action... Bigger Challenges Lie Ahead." 
Hankyoreh's headline read: "(The Speech is) Like a Breath of Fresh 
Air; Action is More Important than Words" 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized: "What is most noteworthy in Obama's 
speech is that he said that any nation, including Iran, which was 
condemned by the Bush Administration as part of an 'axis of evil,' 
should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power and that, 
just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can 
Palestine's. ... With this speech, Obama has taken a first step 
toward breaking Islam's distrust of the U.S.  However, there are 
many obstacles to overcome. ... This is why some say cold-heartedly 
that they will watch if Obama's worlds will translate into action." 
 
 
In a commentary, conservative Chosun Ilbo observed: "It is said that 
Christianity is the eldest son of Judaism and that Islam is its 
second son. ...  Since Christianity and Islam are like brothers 
(sharing the same roots in the) ancient Oriental civilization, the 
problem lies not in religion but in politics.  Obama had a Muslim 
father and, as a child, he lived for four years in Indonesia, the 
world's largest Islam country.  Will Obama be able to break the 
vicious cycle of the long-standing hatred between the West and the 
Islam world?  The key lies in whether the powerful side (the U.S.) 
will take reliable action." 
 
-North Korea 
------------ 
All ROK media today gave wide attention to President Barack Obama's 
June 6 press conference in France, in which he said: "North Korea's 
actions over the last several months have been extraordinarily 
provocative."  President Obama was further quoted: "We are not 
intending to continue a policy of rewarding provocation." 
 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's June 7 remarks on ABC's "This 
Week" also received wide press coverage.  She was widely quoted as 
saying, when asked about a letter from some senators asking 
President Obama to relist the North as a state sponsor of terrorism: 
"We are going to look at it. There's a process for it." 
In a related development, conservative Dong-a Ilbo headlined its 
inside-page article: "The Current Situation is in a Sanctions Phase' 
... U.S. Puts All-Out Pressure on N. Korea."  Moderate Hankook 
Ilbo's headline read: "Obama, Clinton Pressure North Korea in a 
Row... U.S. Turns Hard-line toward North Korea" 
 
Most newspapers reported that the UN Security Council (UNSC) will 
likely adopt a new sanctions resolution against North Korea this 
week, since the ambassadors from the Council's five permanent 
members and the ROK and Japan have reviewed the draft of such a 
resolution. 
 
 
SEOUL 00000905  003 OF 007 
 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo, Dong-a Ilbo and Segye Ilbo and 
right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo reported that a UNSC draft resolution 
made public Saturday includes a provision that would allow UN member 
nations to stop and search suspicious North Korean ships even in 
international waters. 
 
In particular, the Chosun report said that the provision is 
incomparably stronger in tone than the Proliferation Security 
Initiative (PSI), the U.S.-led anti-proliferation regime, which has 
some 90 member countries.  Chosun also noted that harsh sanctions 
will also be imposed on North Korean transactions in weapons. 
 
JoongAng Ilbo, meanwhile, said that the draft resolution will ban 
financial aid to North Korea, except for humanitarian purposes. 
 
Dong-a Ilbo editorialized: "At issue is the attitude of the Chinese 
government.  China publicly says that it objects to nuclear 
development and proliferation on the Korean Peninsula, but is 
passive in imposing effective sanctions to prevent Pyongyang from 
developing nuclear weapons.  We cannot understand how China, while 
failing to deter North Korea's nuclear development, can denuclearize 
the Korean Peninsula, prevent nuclear proliferation (from the 
North), and achieve peace and stability in Northeast Asia.  If only 
China cooperates properly, we can deter North Korea's nuclear 
development as well as bring changes to North Korea.  Now is the 
time for Beijing to think wisely about what is the real way to help 
North Korea." 
 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
------------------- 
 
OBAMA'S CAIRO SPEECH 
(Chosun Ilbo, June 6, 2009, Page 22) 
 
By Editorial writer Kim Tae-ik 
 
On June 4, U.S. President Obama addressed 1.5 billion Muslims in a 
historic reconciliation speech at Cairo University in Egypt.  Obama 
said that he "considers it part of his responsibility as President 
of the U.S. to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam."  He 
also added that he will "seek a new beginning between the U.S. and 
Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and mutual 
respect." 
 
It is said that Christianity is the eldest son of Judaism and Islam 
is its second son.  The Koran contains stories of Moses, Adam and 
Eve, David and Solomon and Noah's Ark, which appear in the Old 
Testament.  Since Christianity and Islam are like brothers (sharing 
the same roots in the) ancient Oriental civilization, the problem 
lies not in religion but in politics.  Obama had a Muslim father 
and, as a child, he lived for four years in Indonesia, the world's 
largest Islam country.  Will Obama be able to break the vicious 
cycle of the long-standing hatred between the West and the Islam 
world?  The key lies in whether the powerful side (the U.S.) will 
take reliable action. 
 
 
AMERICANS' VIEW OF THE POLITICAL SITUATION AFTER THE DEATH OF FORMER 
PRESIDENT ROH 
(Dong-a Ilbo, June 8, 2009, Page 31) 
 
By Washington Correspondent Lee Ki-hong 
 
What would foreigners think of the "phenomenon of former President 
Roh Moo-hyun"? 
 
Reponses from my American acquaintances can be summed up as follows: 
"It is surprising and hard to understand."  They first appeared to 
be surprised at how a person who served as the former head of state 
committed suicide, and they also seemed to be surprised at Koreans' 
response to it.  I decided to ask Americans about their opinions 
seriously and interviewed five people on June 4 and 5.  Two of them 
are Korean Peninsula experts leaning toward the Democratic Party, 
 
SEOUL 00000905  004 OF 007 
 
 
and the others are Korean-American intellectuals have been living in 
the U.S. for 20-45 years. 
 
The five people's views were almost the same.  First of all, 
regarding "suicide," they agreed, "It is sad, but a person in a 
position to be a role model for others should not have chosen to 
(commit suicide.)  The ROK society seems to be generous (in 
accepting his actions)."  Asked about the argument that former 
President Roh was virtually killed by the prosecution, the media and 
the current ROKG, four answered, "I do not understand that logic," 
and one responded, "The prosecution and the media need to consider 
their own actions (with regards to this situation.)" 
 
A researcher at a think tank said, "I saw politicians close to 
former President Roh arguing that he was driven to death and 
demanding an apology from the current President, but they are the 
(same) people who were convicted of irregularities and corruption. 
In my opinion, it was those people who pushed former President Roh 
to the edge.  Their greed tainted the reputation of former President 
Roh, who emphasized clean politics, and isn't that the reason why he 
felt ashamed and agonized?  Koreans do not seem to care that those 
people who caused his death are using it politically to their 
advantage, instead of reflecting on their own behavior. 
 
Professor Park Yoon-sik at The George Washington University 
explained how tenacious and aggressive the media and the independent 
counsel were in the Clinton sex scandal.  A former foreign policy 
and security advisor for the Barack Obama camp noted, "Think of how 
aggressive the FBI or the media would have been if former President 
George W. Bush's families or friends had been found to have taken 
millions of dollars in bribes." 
 
Kim Dong-suk, head of a center for voters in New York and New 
Jersey, said, "I do not agree that he was the victim of political 
retaliation," and pointed out, "In the U.S., yellow papers would 
make a fuss by relaying unfounded stories, but influential media 
outlets would always be tenacious and report only stories that have 
been confirmed." 
 
What everyone said was the most surprising (aspect of the situation) 
was the sudden change in public opinion.  Professor Park said, 
"Former President Roh changed from being the object of ridicule to a 
national hero overnight, and this would not have been possible in 
the U.S."  Another respondent asked, "It was a case of 
irregularities and corruption.  How can the nature of the case 
change so suddenly?" 
 
Kim Suk-han, a senior partner in major law firm Akin Gump, noted, 
"When foreigners saw (the response to President Roh Moo-hyun's 
death), along with last year's beef controversy, they (get the 
impression) that ROK society is excessively emotional.   (As a 
result, investors) feel more anxiety when assessing investment risk, 
and it also gives an impression that ROK society is unpredictable." 
 
I wanted to tell the Americans, "Other former ROK Presidents were 
involved in much dirtier scandals but (now) are living well. 
However, Roh felt so guilty and ashamed that he chose to take his 
own life.  Wasn't he relatively much more naove?  This is why 
Koreans feel particularly sad." 
 
If foreigners understand the pity that ordinary citizens' feel (for 
former President Roh,) their view would be a little different. 
However, it is regrettable that the people's innocent memorial fever 
has become "hard to understand" due to some ill-intentioned 
political and ideological forces. 
 
 
IF CHINA WANTS TO DENUCLEARIZE KOREAN PENINSULA, IT SHOULD BE 
PROACTIVE IN SANCTIONING N. KOREA 
(Dong-a Ilbo, June 8, 2009, Page 31) 
 
The UN Security Council (UNSC) has entered the final phase of 
adopting a resolution in response to North Korea's second nuclear 
test.  Since representatives from the five permanent members of the 
 
SEOUL 00000905  005 OF 007 
 
 
UNSC, the ROK and Japan have tentatively agreed on the draft 
resolution, they will soon be coordinating their final positions 
after consulting with their home countries.  This draft is much 
stronger than UNSC Resolution 1718, which was adopted after North 
Korea's first nuclear test.  At issue is the attitude of the Chinese 
government.  China publicly says that it objects to nuclear 
development and proliferation on the Korean Peninsula, but it is 
passive in imposing effective sanctions to prevent Pyongyang from 
developing nuclear weapons.  We cannot understand how China, while 
failing to deter North Korea's nuclear development, can denuclearize 
the Korean Peninsula, prevent nuclear proliferation (from the 
North), and achieve peace and stability in Northeast Asia. 
 
On May 25, when North Korea conducted its second nuclear test, China 
expressed unusually strong opposition to the test through a 
statement from its Foreign Ministry.  It is also reported that 
Beijing has started a comprehensive review of its North Korea 
policy.  However, a TV network in Hong Kong reported yesterday that 
Beijing notified Washington that it cannot drastically change its 
North Korea policy.  It is difficult to understand what China's 
basic stance is.  Even Taiwan's daily newspaper reported, in 
reference to China's hard-line stance on the North, that Beijing is 
"just wearing an angry mask" (pretending to be angry) for a while, 
which sounds convincing. 
 
It would not be easy for China, which has maintained friendly 
relations with North Korea over the past six decades, to change the 
basis of the relationship suddenly.  However, if North Korea is 
accepted as a nuclear state, it could spread a flurry of activity 
throughout Northeast Asia to acquire self-defensive nuclear weapons. 
  Japan will not sit idly, nor will Taiwan.  In the ROK, talk of 
acquiring nuclear arms is also emerging.   This could spark an arms 
race in Northeast Asia and undermine stability and peace.  In the 
end, China could be surrounded by nuclear states.  If China wants to 
avoid this extreme situation, it would be best to deter North 
Korea's nuclear development at this stage. 
 
The U.S. has a clear stance on the North Korean nuclear issue. 
President Barack Obama said, "We are not intending to continue a 
policy of rewarding (North Korea's) provocation."  If only China 
cooperates properly, we can deter North Korea's nuclear development 
as well as bring changes to North Korea.  Now is the time for 
Beijing to think wisely about what is the real way to help North 
Korea. 
 
 
OBAMA'S WORRISOME REMARKS ON NORTH KOREA 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, June 8, 2009, page 23) 
 
A few days ago in France, U.S President Barack Obama said, "North 
Korea's actions over the last several months have been 
extraordinarily provocative."  He made it clear that he plans to 
change the main focus of the nation's North Korea policy by saying, 
"We are not intending to continue a policy of rewarding 
provocation."  He explained that while he himself still prefers a 
diplomatic approach, North Korea has not shown the serious effort a 
diplomatic resolution requires. 
 
The disappointment of the U.S. is understandable given the series of 
provocations that North Korea has engaged in since Obama took 
office, from its rocket launch to its second nuclear test and even 
preparations to launch a long-range missile.  Although the Obama 
Administration, unlike the previous George W. Bush Administration, 
has sought to resolve the nuclear issue through dialogue, North 
Korea has continued to ratchet up tensions.  Recently, it even 
announced that it would no longer be bound by the 1953 Armistice 
Agreement that has existed between the ROK and North Korea for the 
past 56 years, citing the ROK's participation in the U.S.-led 
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) on weapons of mass 
destruction as the primary reason.  North Korea's provocations have 
done great harm to the stability of the Korean Peninsula and East 
Asia and should be criticized.  It also is reasonable for the 
international community to denounce these actions and seek an 
appropriate course of response. 
 
SEOUL 00000905  006 OF 007 
 
 
 
Yet one cannot help expressing concern about President Obama's 
pronouncements.  The change (in U.S. policy) from a 
dialogue-centered approach towards increasing confrontation will 
have repercussions that will fall squarely on the ROK.  The 
likelihood of this occurring has increased as tensions have already 
built up in the Yellow Sea, and there is talk about the possibility 
of localized clashes.  This has become all the more worrisome as the 
Lee Myung-bak Administration, faced with a political crisis in the 
wake of the sudden passing of former President Roh Moo-hyun, has 
been showing signs of moving towards using inter-Korean tensions as 
a means of getting through this crisis. 
 
Many analysts are speculating that the recent string of North Korean 
provocations may have stemmed from an internal need to build a 
succession system.  However, the provocations may also be 
attributable to both Washington's and Seoul's North Korea policies. 
Since taking office, President Lee Myung-bak has provoked North 
Korea with various measures, including his refusal to recognize the 
June 15 and October 4 Joint Declarations between the two Koreas. 
The U.S., for its part, has emphasized a policy of 'benign neglect' 
in lieu of sincere discussions with North Korea.  North Korea only 
became a policy priority for the U.S. again after it conducted a 
nuclear test. 
 
It would be rash to abandon dialogue without having first made any 
proper efforts.  It is also wrong to view dialogue in itself as a 
reward.  The North Korean nuclear issue can only be resolved when 
the international community makes North Korea abandon its nuclear 
ambitions by fundamentally removing the uncertainty related to its 
regime and bringing it fully into the international community.  This 
is only possible through dialogue, not force. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
FEATURES 
-------- 
ROK FOREIGN MINISTER: "IT SEEMS THAT THE U.S. HAS NEW EVIDENCE FOR 
NORTH KOREA'S CIRCULATION OF COUNTERFEIT NOTES" 
(JoongAng Ilbo, June 8, 2009, page 6) 
 
After a June 5 meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 
in Washington, ROK Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan had a press 
conference with ROK's Washington correspondents.  Foreign Minister 
Yu said that all the related countries agreed that they should 
curtail their financial dealings with North Korea to deter the 
North's nuclear test or missile launch. 
 
Q:  What did you discuss with Secretary Clinton? 
Yu: "We checked items to be placed on the agenda for the upcoming 
ROK-U.S. summit.  We also discussed the UN Security Council's 
countermeasures against North Korea (because of its) nuclear test 
and missile launch.  The UN Security Council is engaging in final 
negotiations for a resolution sanctioning North Korea.  We noted 
that the timing of the resolution is as important as its content. 
When North Korea conducted the first nuclear test, the resolution 
was issued within a week.  We also agreed to intensify diplomatic 
efforts to finalize the resolution at least by early this week.  I 
expect the resolution will be agreed to early this week. 
 
Q: Why has the UN resolution been delayed? 
Yu: "Although the ultimate goal of denuclearizing North Korea 
remains unchanged, the U.S. seems to think that more detailed 
measures are necessary in order that the entire world adopts a 
non-proliferation agenda after the North conducted its second 
nuclear test. The sanctions are aimed at putting into place more 
detailed and effective regulations on the inspection of third 
countries' vessels and aircraft frequenting North Korea." 
 
Q: Were (the UN Security Council's) financial sanctions discussed? 
Yu: "What is important in deterring North Korea (from conducting) 
nuclear tests or missile launches is to ban financial dealings with 
 
SEOUL 00000905  007 OF 007 
 
 
North Korea.  All the related countries agreed that such an effort 
is needed, except for (those transactions needed to further) 
humanitarian purposes. 
 
Q: What do you think of remarks by the U.S. Department of State that 
the U.S. may seek its own independent financial sanctions? 
Yu: I interpret these remarks to mean that the U.S. will make more 
proactive efforts to investigate North Korea's illegal acts such as 
drug trafficking, money laundering, transaction of banned weapons 
and circulation of counterfeit notes.  The U.S. will step up efforts 
to exchange information with other countries and conduct an 
investigation actively. 
 
Q: Are recent U.S. media reports on North Korea's circulation of 
counterfeit notes based on detailed evidence? 
Yu: "I understand new evidence has emerged recently." 
 
Q: Did you discuss Kim Jong-un, (who was named as Kim Jong-il's 
successor)? 
Yu: We exchanged information.  It seems that a process of succession 
was not completed but now is under way. 
 
Q: What is the probability of former U.S. Vice President Al Gore 
visiting Pyongyang to negotiate the release of two American female 
journalists? 
Yu: It seems that the U.S. government is discussing whether to 
tackle the issue directly or have the private sector deal with it. 
If similar precedents of American figures paying cash to North Korea 
in exchange for release of U.S. citizens in custody are taken into 
account, we could imagine Gore visiting North Korea.  I personally 
expect he will limit any negotiations to the humanitarian agenda of 
the journalists' release, rather than take advantage of the chance 
for political talks with the North. 
 
(We have compared the English version on the website with the Korean 
version and made some changes to make them identical.) 
 
 
 
STEPHENS