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UNCLAS SEOUL 000906 
 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION 
 
PRESIDENT'S JUNE 4 SPEECH IN CAIRO 
---------------------------------- 
 
"OBAMA'S SPEECH DECLARES ERA OF 'COEXISTENCE OF CIVILIZATIONS'" 
 
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized (06/06): "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 
people say that they will watch to see if Obama's worlds will 
translate into action." 
 
 
"OBAMA'S CAIRO SPEECH" 
 
Editorial Writer Kim Tae-ik observed in conservative Chosun Ilbo 
(06/06): "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." 
 
EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC: DPRK 
----------------------------- 
 
"If China Wants to Denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, It Should be 
Proactive in Sanctioning N. Korea" 
 
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo editorialized (06/08): "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 the real way to help 
North Korea." 
 
 
"OBAMA'S WORRISOME REMARKS ON N. KOREA" 
 
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized (06/08): "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.  ...  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 system and bringing it fully 
into the international community.  This is only possible through 
dialogue, not force." 
 
 
 
STEPHENS