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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 SEOUL 000965 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; June 17, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
-------------- 
 
 
Chosun Ilbo, All TVs, OhmyNews 
President Lee: "Strong ROK-U.S. Cooperation Will Deter War" 
President Obama: "(We) Will Break Past Pattern of Rewarding 
¶N. Korea's Bad Behavior" 
 
JoongAng Ilbo, Dong-a Ilbo 
Obama: "(U.S.) will Fulfill Its Commitment 
to Defend ROK through All Means Necessary" 
 
Hankook Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun 
ROK-U.S. Relations to Develop into Comprehensive, 
Strategic Alliance 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun 
ROK, U.S. Agree Not to Allow Nuclear-Armed N. Korea.... 
to Explore Ways to Bring N. Korea Back to Dialogue 
 
Segye Ilbo 
Obama, Lee Agree to Seek Complete Denuclearization of N. Korea; 
Obama Pledges Nuclear Umbrella for ROK 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Barack Obama, in a June 16 summit at 
the White House, adopted a "joint vision for the ROK-U.S. alliance," 
which includes a written guarantee on "extended deterrence" that 
puts the ROK under the U.S. nuclear umbrella and provides 
conventional weapons (All 
 
The two leaders also agreed not to allow a nuclear-armed North Korea 
and to strengthen cooperation with relevant countries to make North 
Korea clearly realize that its bad behavior will no longer be 
rewarded and will come at a price. (All) 
 
Furthermore, the two leaders agreed to begin efforts to ratify the 
KORUS FTA at an appropriate time. (All) 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 
----------------- 
 
According to an ROKG source, a special North Korean train, which 
transported an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)-class 
missile to a launch site in Tongchang-ri, North Pyongan Province in 
May, recently moved from a missile research center in Pyongyang to 
another launch site in Musudan-ri, North Hamgyong Province. 
(Chosun) 
 
ROK and U.S. authorities speculate that the North may have 
transported a second ICBM-class missile to the Musudan-ri launch 
site. (Chosun) 
 
North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said 
yesterday that the two U.S. journalists who were jailed last week in 
North Korea for 12 years of "reform through labor" admitted that 
"what they did were criminal acts that were committed and prompted 
by the political motive to isolate and stifle the socialist system 
of North Korea." (Chosun, Dong-a, Hankook, Hankyoreh, Segye, Seoul, 
all TVs, VoiceofPeople) 
 
According to the June 16 edition of The New York Times, President 
Obama will soon order the Navy to hail and request permission to 
inspect North Korean ships at sea suspected of carrying arms or 
nuclear technology, but the Navy will not board them by force. 
(JoongAng, Hankook, Hankyoreh, Seoul) 
 
 
SEOUL 00000965  002 OF 009 
 
 
U.S. intelligence officially concluded yesterday that North Korea 
"probably conducted" a nuclear test that yielded "a few kilotons" on 
May 25. This explosive power is much smaller than that of the atomic 
bomb dropped on Japan's Nagasaki during World War II, which had the 
force of some 20 kilotons. (JoongAng, Segye) 
 
The U.S. Congress adopted a resolution calling on North Korea to 
"stop any hostile rhetoric and activity toward the ROK and to engage 
in mutual dialogue to enhance inter-Korean relations." (JoongAng, 
Segye, Seoul) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
----------------- 
 
 
U.S-ROK Summit Meeting 
---------------------- 
The ROK media gave above-the-fold front-page play to the June 16 
summit in Washington between Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Barack 
Obama. 
 
The media reported that the two leaders agreed not to allow a 
nuclear-armed North Korea and to strengthen cooperation with 
relevant countries to make North Korea clearly realize that its bad 
behavior will no longer be rewarded and will come at a price. 
 
According to media reports, the two leaders also adopted a "joint 
vision for the ROK-U.S. alliance," which includes a written 
guarantee on "extended deterrence" that puts the ROK under the U.S. 
nuclear umbrella and provides conventional weapons (in response to 
North Korea's second nuclear test and a string of missile tests.) 
Furthermore, the leaders agreed to begin efforts to ratify the KORUS 
FTA at an appropriate time. 
 
Newspapers carried the following headlines: "President Obama: '(We) 
will Break Past Pattern of Rewarding N. Korea's Bad Behavior;' (We) 
are Ready for Negotiations but will Deal Resolutely with N. Korea's 
Provocations'"  (conservative Chosun Ilbo); "Obama: '(U.S.) will 
Fulfill Its Commitment to Defend ROK through All Means Necessary'" 
(right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo, conservative Dong-a Ilbo); ROK-U.S. 
Relations to Develop into a Comprehensive, Strategic Alliance" 
(moderate Hankook Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun); "ROK, U.S. Agree Not to 
Allow Nuclear-armed N. Korea... to Explore Ways to Bring N. Korea 
Back to Dialogue" (left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun); and "Obama, Lee 
Agree to Seek Complete Denuclearization of N. Korea; Obama Pledges 
Nuclear Umbrella for ROK" (conservative Segye Ilbo) 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized: "Presidents Lee and Obama 
agreed to work together to achieve the complete and verifiable 
elimination of North Korea's nuclear weapons and existing nuclear 
and missile programs. ... The problem is how to achieve this 
objective.  There is mounting pessimism in the international 
community, as well as in the ROK and the U.S., about the resolution 
of the North Korean nuclear and missile issue.  Using physical means 
to eliminate North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities is not a 
realistic solution.  A difficult task lies ahead for the ROK and the 
U.S. to overcome this pessimistic sentiment ... and to come up with 
a fundamental solution to the issues." 
 
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized: "At issue is the 
effectiveness of the sanctions (against North Korea.)  Unless China 
takes an active part, the sanctions will hardly be effective.  ... 
Accordingly, the U.S. and ROK leaders should focus their dialogue on 
how to move China toward maximizing the effect of the sanctions 
against the North.  We hope that the two leaders had an in-depth 
exchange of views on this during the summit." 
 
Moderate Hankook Ilbo editorialized: "Pressure and sanctions are not 
enough to resolve the issue of North Korea's nuclear and long-range 
missile development.  This is why it is regrettable that the two 
leaders, while agreeing to pressure the North, failed to present 
incentives to bring the North back to dialogue.  Now is the time for 
the international community to stand united and apply pressure on 
 
SEOUL 00000965  003 OF 009 
 
 
the North.  However, only when the North is offered a way out is a 
peaceful resolution possible." 
 
¶N. Korea 
-------- 
 
- Detained U.S. Journalists 
Most ROK media gave attention to North Korea's state-run Korean 
Central News Agency (KCNA)'s report yesterday that the two U.S. 
journalists who were jailed last week in North Korea for 12 years of 
"reform through labor" admitted that "what they did were criminal 
acts committed, prompted by the political motive to isolate and 
stifle the socialist system of North Korea." 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo cited an ROKG official: "This North Korea 
report might have been intended to stress the North's justification 
for trying (the journalists) and to suggest that the issue has now 
reached the stage of political negotiations." 
 
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo, on the other hand, viewed this report as 
aimed at provoking the U.S. to accelerate negotiations for their 
release. 
 
- Missile and Nuclear Activities 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo front-paged a report citing an ROKG source 
that a special North Korean train, which transported an 
intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)-class missile to a launch 
site in Tongchang-ri, North Pyongan Province in May, recently moved 
from a missile research center in Pyongyang to another launch site 
in Musudan-ri, North Hamgyong Province.   The report went on to say 
that ROK and U.S. authorities speculate that the North may have 
transported a second ICBM-class missile to the Musudan-ri launch 
site. 
 
Chosun also cited Chinese foreign affairs experts as saying 
yesterday that China and North Korea are no longer in a close 
military alliance and that Beijing has only limited influence on the 
North in terms of the nuclear issue. 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
------------------- 
 
"Preventing Further Bloodshed in Iran" 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, June 17, 2009, page 27) 
 
"First and foremost, we hope that the Iranian government and 
opposition parties will work together to avoid any further blood 
clashes.  Iran is a key state in determining the political situation 
in the Middle East.  No one benefits if Iran falls into a spiral of 
bloody violence. ...  President Ahmadinejad has caused discontent 
among reformist forces by adhering to a hard-line conservative 
policy at home and abroad since taking office. ... What makes the 
current protests serious is that the general public critical of the 
current regime has aligned itself with the reformist forces.  ... In 
order to resolve the situation, the forces in power must open their 
ears to the people's calls for change.  They must keep in mind that 
if they attempt to resolve it through hard-line tactics of 
suppression, they will end up in even greater chaos." 
 
 
Terrorists Will Not Achieve Their Goals Through Violence 
(Chosun Ilbo, June 17, 2009, page 35) 
 
It was confirmed yesterday that 34-year-old Eom Young-sun was 
murdered after she was kidnapped while doing volunteer work in 
Yemen.  We express our condolences for Ms. Eom, who was unjustly 
killed while engaged in meaningful work in difficult surroundings. 
Moreover, we sternly condemn this act of terror that took the life 
of an innocent civilian.  To target unarmed civilians, who have not 
taken any hostile action, with terrorism is an inhumane act that 
cannot be condoned for any reason. 
 
This year, five Koreans have been killed in terrorist attacks in 
Yemen alone.  In March, four Korean tourists were killed in a 
 
SEOUL 00000965  004 OF 009 
 
 
terrorist bombing attack as they were touring Shibam in Yemen, and 
now, three months later, a similar incident has taken place.  Ms. 
Eom was kidnapped by an unknown terrorist group on June 12 - a 
Muslim day of rest - when she was hiking with a German family she 
was working with. (Her death) could be called tragic or an 
uncontrollable situation that occurred in a flash, but this does not 
mitigate the government's responsibility.  The most fundamental 
government responsibility and duty is to protect the lives and 
property of citizens living inside and outside of its country. 
 
First, the ROKG must cooperate with Yemeni authorities to find out 
quickly which terrorist group murdered Ms. Eom, and examine all 
potential measures necessary to prevent the possibility of future 
victims.  Moreover, the government must fundamentally review whether 
it is properly protecting the lives of its citizens residing or 
serving in dangerous areas.  The fact that the lives of five 
citizens can be lost in the same country within three months is 
evidence of a big gap in the government's ability to protect its 
overseas nationals.  The government must protect its citizens from 
further losses to terrorism, even if it means pulling Korean 
nationals out of the country or slapping on travel bans. 
 
Moreover, the government should deeply examine why terrorist acts 
against Koreans in the Middle East are repeatedly occurring.  As we 
saw with the 2004 kidnapping and killing of Kim Sun-il in Iraq and 
the 2007 group kidnapping of Koreans in Afghanistan, the ROKG's 
Middle East policies, which are servile to the U.S., are leading to 
animosity against Koreans on the ground.  Moreover, the fact that 
most of the victims of terrorism in the Middle East have been 
members of Christian missionary groups suggests something.  Not only 
citizens in general, but volunteer groups, too, should adopt an 
attitude respecting local religions and culture, and the government 
should implement a principled Middle East policy along with brisk 
efforts to boost mutual understanding. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
Yemen Tragedy Calls on Us to Fight against Terrorism 
(JoongAng Ilbo, June 17, 2009, Page 42) 
 
An ROK woman was kidnapped and murdered in Yemen, even as the 
shocking memory of the suicide bombing that cost the lives of four 
ROK tourists in that country still lingers.  Eom Young-sun - who 
worked for World Wide Service, the multinational medical service 
group - had been missing along with eight other members and was 
found dead on June 15.  It seems that the killing did not 
specifically target Koreans, since the other members were all 
Europeans.  However, the ROKG should not sit on its hands.  More 
than 12 million Koreans depart from the ROK annually, and may be 
exposed to indiscriminate terrorism against foreigners any time and 
anywhere.  With strings of killings (of Koreans) in Yemen, the ROKG 
and the public should be put on high alert against terrorism. 
 
No exact details on how the killing took place were revealed. 
However, some people speculate that al-Qaida, the international 
terrorist group, masterminded this act because there was no ransom 
or political demand contrary to ordinary abduction of foreigners in 
Yemen.  Al-Qaida, which has suffered a blow due to a global 
crackdown and economic crisis, has established Yemen as a new 
stronghold to consolidate the organization.  According to 
investigations by the Yemeni government, al-Qaida perpetrated the 
March terrorist act in order to demonstrate that it remains 
powerful.  Therefore the ROKG should take thorough measures to 
protect ROK residents and travelers in the areas where al-Qaida 
operates.  The ROKG may need to review the possibility of 
heightening the level of risk to foreigners in Yemen to "avoid all 
travel," - as in Afghanistan and Somalia -from "avoid non-essential 
travel."  The public should also increase their awareness of, and 
weigh the risks of, terrorist acts before leaving the country. 
 
Moreover, it is time to review ways to participate actively in the 
U.S.-led campaign against terrorism.  The ROKG cannot just idly 
 
SEOUL 00000965  005 OF 009 
 
 
watch the anti-terrorism campaign, now that many Koreans have fallen 
victim to terrorist acts.  The ROKG should make contributions 
commensurate with its international standing and forge close 
cooperation with other governments to further improve its capability 
to prevent terrorism. 
 
 
We Should No Longer Be Victims of Inhumane Terrorism 
(Dong-a Ilbo, June 17, 2009, Page 31) 
 
An ROK (aid) worker, Eom Young-sun, was found dead in Yemen before 
we're even able to wake up from the nightmare of the suicide bombing 
that killed ROK tourists in March.  The ROKG needs to establish a 
more systematic warning system to ensure the safety of ROK residents 
in foreign countries.  Following the suicide bombing that took the 
lives of four ROK tourists in March, the ROKG designated Yemen as an 
"avoid non-essential travel" country, but in spite of this, a 
terrible killing took place again. 
 
Yemen is a country where kidnapping is rampant and gun possession is 
legalized.  Because every Yemeni has on average three guns, 
occasional gun-related incidents can occur.  Yemen has been unstable 
since its unification, and the police have not done a good job in 
keeping peace in the region.  Yemen is a precarious country where 
terrorist organizations, including al-Qaida, reign and foreigners 
become their targets.  The ROKG should provide this information to 
the public through various channels. 
 
To prevent this tragedy (from happening again), citizens, as well 
the government, should take responsibility for their own lives and 
safety.  Also, religious organizations should be warned against 
dispatching missionaries.  The public should bear in mind that there 
is no area free from international terrorism and, in particular, 
people who travel in dangerous countries should make an effort to 
protect their own safety. 
 
 
Situation in Yemen Demonstrates S. Korea Needs a Principled Middle 
East policy 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, June 17, 2009, page 27) 
 
It was confirmed yesterday that 34-year-old Eom Young-sun was 
murdered after she was kidnapped while doing volunteer work in 
Yemen.  We express our condolences for Ms. Eom, who was unjustly 
killed while engaged in meaningful work in difficult surroundings. 
Moreover, we sternly condemn this act of terror that took the life 
of an innocent civilian.  To target unarmed civilians, who have not 
taken any hostile action, with terrorism is an inhumane act that 
cannot be condoned for any reason. 
 
This year, five Koreans have been killed in terrorist attacks in 
Yemen alone.  In March, four Korean tourists were killed in a 
terrorist bombing attack as they were touring Shibam in Yemen, and 
now, three months later, a similar incident has taken place.  Ms. 
Eom was kidnapped by an unknown terrorist group on June 12 - a 
Muslim day of rest - when she was hiking with a German family she 
was working with. (Her death) could be called tragic or an 
uncontrollable situation that occurred in a flash, but this does not 
mitigate the government's responsibility.  The most fundamental 
government responsibility and duty is to protect the lives and 
property of citizens living inside and outside of its country. 
 
First, the ROKG must cooperate with Yemeni authorities to find out 
quickly which terrorist group murdered Ms. Eom, and examine all 
potential measures necessary to prevent the possibility of future 
victims.  Moreover, the government must fundamentally review whether 
it is properly protecting the lives of its citizens residing or 
serving in dangerous areas.  The fact that the lives of five 
citizens can be lost in the same country within three months is 
evidence of a big gap in the government's ability to protect its 
overseas nationals.  The government must protect its citizens from 
further losses to terrorism, even if it means pulling Korean 
nationals out of the country or slapping on travel bans. 
 
 
SEOUL 00000965  006 OF 009 
 
 
Moreover, the government should deeply examine why terrorist acts 
against Koreans in the Middle East are repeatedly occurring.  As we 
saw with the 2004 kidnapping and killing of Kim Sun-il in Iraq and 
the 2007 group kidnapping of Koreans in Afghanistan, the ROKG's 
Middle East policies, which are servile to the U.S., are leading to 
animosity against Koreans on the ground.  Moreover, the fact that 
most of the victims of terrorism in the Middle East have been 
members of Christian missionary groups suggests something.  Not only 
citizens in general, but volunteer groups, too, should adopt an 
attitude respecting local religions and culture, and the government 
should implement a principled Middle East policy along with brisk 
efforts to boost mutual understanding. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
Shocking and Regrettable Yemen Tragedy 
(Hankook Ilbo, June 17, 2009, Page 35) 
 
It was confirmed that Eom Young-sun, an ROK aid worker, was murdered 
in Yemen after being kidnapped by terrorists.  In March, a suicide 
bombing took the lives of four ROK tourists and some people pinpoint 
al-Qaida as the mastermind behind this act.  However, Yemen, which 
has many armed rebel forces, has been plagued with tribal strife, 
political terrors and kidnapping. 
 
Particularly, some tribes often abduct foreign technicians in order 
to demand that their jobs will be guaranteed in the new oil fields 
and factories.  Some people blame a Shiite rebel group for the 
terrorist acts that occurred this time and in March, while others 
hold an indigenous tribe accountable.  The terrorists purportedly 
committed this crime in retaliation after the Yemeni government 
rounded up suspects to crack down on kidnappings - which tarnishes 
their national image and hinders tourism - and imposed severe 
punishment on them. 
 
Therefore it is presumed that the kidnappings, which were once 
settled in return for ransom, have changed (in character.)  However, 
armed forces, such as the Shiite rebel group, show animosity against 
a greater presence of foreigners, particularly foreign missionary 
groups. 
 
The ROKG should come up with more realistic measures.  Our citizens 
also should become more aware (of the dangers) and protect their own 
safety. 
 
 
Seoul Must Be Ready to Defend Itself 
(Chosun Ilbo, June 17, 2009, Page 35) 
 
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President Barack Obama 
met in Washington, D.C. Tuesday and announced a "vision" for the 
alliance between South Korea and the U.S.  As part of this vision, 
they agreed to work together to achieve the complete and verifiable 
elimination of North Korea's nuclear weapons and existing nuclear 
and missile programs.  They also set out plans to transform their 
half-century-old alliance into a comprehensive, strategic 
partnership that encompasses the military and security fields, as 
well as politics, society and culture. 
 
The two leaders presented their objectives for North Korea's nuclear 
and missile programs that could not be resolved through existing 
U.S.-North Korean agreements or the Six-Party Talks.  The Six-Party 
Talks have failed to halt North Korea's plutonium-based nuclear 
program, while a U.S.-North Korean missile agreement reached in 1999 
was only a provisional measure that merely delayed the launch of a 
long-range missile by the North.  Lee and Obama agreed that the 
previous practice of rewarding North Korea's bad behavior would no 
longer be acceptable and that improper behavior will lead to 
consequences.  In other words, there will be no more temporary 
expedients. 
 
The problem is how to achieve this objective.  There is mounting 
 
SEOUL 00000965  007 OF 009 
 
 
pessimism in the international community, as well as in the ROK and 
the U.S., about the resolution of the North Korean nuclear and 
missile issue.  Using physical means to eliminate North Korea's 
nuclear and missile capabilities is not a realistic solution.  A 
difficult task lies ahead for the ROK and the U.S. to overcome this 
pessimistic sentiment, to come up with a fundamental solution to the 
issues, and turn them into realistic measures. 
 
The two sides say they will use the alliance to achieve a peaceful 
reunification on the Korean peninsula based on the principles of a 
free-market economy.  The two leaders also vowed to cooperate to 
improve the human rights situation in North Korea.  They proposed a 
set of values, methods and goals for reunification that deal 
directly with the issue of North Korean human rights, which is 
something that previous administrations avoided even mentioning. 
 
They used the term "extended deterrence" to announce the inclusion 
of South Korea under the U.S. nuclear umbrella against the threat of 
a North Korean nuclear attack.  It refers to a comprehensive 
alliance in which Washington would construe an attack against an 
allied nation as an attack on U.S. soil, justifying the mobilization 
of American nuclear and conventional weapons, and resources in 
response. 
 
But from a military point of view, including the return of full 
Korean troop control from the U.S. to the South Korean military, the 
two leaders said the readjustment of the alliance would be achieved 
by South Korea handling the main role in its own defense and the 
U.S. offering support through troops stationed in Korea and other 
regions.  That was merely a reaffirmation of the existing military 
agreements.  It reflects Washington's view that South Korea should 
handle the bulk of the duties when it comes to military operations 
on the Korean peninsula.  The South Korean government must pay close 
attention to the U.S. position and make sure it is fully prepared to 
defend itself. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
Did U.S., ROK Leaders Discuss Ways to Make China Move? (JoongAng 
Ilbo, June 17, 2009, Page 42) 
 
We understand that the debate about North Korea's intentions behind 
its nuclear development is over.  Now that North Korea has conducted 
its second nuclear test and admitted to having a uranium enrichment 
program - the existence of which the North previously denied - it is 
no longer convincing to assume that Pyongyang intends to use its 
nuclear development as a bargaining chip at the negotiation table. 
It has been clear that the possession of nuclear weapons is the goal 
in itself.  This is why we regard the current situation as the third 
nuclear crisis, which is much more serious than the first and second 
crises. 
 
It is now ridiculous to persuade Pyongyang to return to the 
negotiation table.  In the current situation, we have no choice but 
to give top priority to strong sanctions against North Korea under 
UN Security Council Resolution 1874.  We think that, based on this 
perception, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President 
Barack Obama reaffirmed the principle of not tolerating a 
nuclear-armed North Korea at the summit this morning and declared 
that the past pattern of rewarding the North for its bad behavior in 
order to resume dialogue would be no longer repeated.  At issue is 
the effectiveness of the sanctions (against North Korea).  Unless 
China takes an active part, the sanctions will hardly be effective. 
 In the meantime, North Korea will shut itself off from the outside 
world and increase its nuclear arsenal step by step. 
 
Although President Lee reportedly proposed holding five-way talks 
that exclude North Korea at the summit, the variable will be China. 
If China refuses to join them, the talks will be useless. 
Accordingly, the U.S. and ROK leaders should focus their dialogue on 
how to move China toward maximizing the effect of the sanctions 
against the North.  We hope that the two leaders had an in-depth 
 
SEOUL 00000965  008.2 OF 009 
 
 
exchange of views on this during the summit. 
 
 In this sense, we need to heed what Moon Chang-keuk, a JoongAng 
Ilbo senior columnist, said at the June 15 seminar held in 
Washington by the Korea-U.S. Club, a gathering of former Washington 
correspondents.  He noted that the ROK and the U.S. should ensure, 
through diplomacy, that China brings its influence to bear on the 
North, and to this end, the ROK, the U.S. and Japan should share the 
burden that China will have to endure while pressuring the North. 
He also said that in case pressure leads to emergency in North 
Korea, the ROK and the U.S. should promise not to act against the 
interest of China but to respect China's opinion as much as 
possible.  If North Korea becomes a nuclear state like India and 
Pakistan, it is evident that we cannot avoid a nuclear domino effect 
in Northeast Asia. 
 
While enforcing sanctions against North Korea, we should also leave 
the door open for dialogue.  Still, now is the time to concentrate 
our efforts to deal a blow to North Korea through sanctions, not to 
talk about dialogue.  If Pyongyang intends to return to dialogue on 
its own, we will accept it, but we should stop giving any rewards in 
response.  It is also absolutely important that (the ROK and the 
U.S.) agree that efforts to prepare for any possible emergency (on 
the Korean Peninsula) should be led by the ROK, with other nations 
taking up supporting roles. 
 
 
ROK-U.S. Summit Calls for Sticks against North Korea 
(Hankook Ilbo, June 17, 2009, Page 35) 
 
Pressure and sanctions are not enough to resolve the issue of North 
Korea's nuclear and long-range missile development.  This is why it 
is regrettable that the two leaders, while agreeing to pressure the 
North at the summit, failed to present incentives to bring the North 
back to dialogue.  Now is the time for the international community 
to stand united and apply pressure on the North.  However, only when 
the North is offered a way out is a peaceful resolution possible. 
Based on the view shared with the U.S. at the summit, the ROKG 
should deal sternly with North Korea and at the same time take the 
lead in creating a new framework for drawing the North back into 
talks. 
 
 
 
 
FEATURES 
-------- 
 
President Lee: "Strong ROK-U.S. Cooperation Will Deter War" 
President Obama: "We Will Break Past Pattern of Rewarding North 
Korea's Bad Behavior" 
(Chosun Ilbo, June 17, 2009, Front page) 
 
By Reporters Joo Yong-joong and Lee Ha-won from Washington 
 
ROK, U.S. Presidents: "North Korea will never be allowed to have 
nuclear weapons" 
They adopted the "Joint Vision for the ROK-U.S. Alliance," which 
includes (a provision providing a) U.S. nuclear umbrella for the 
ROK. 
 
President Lee Myung-bak and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama agreed 
on Tuesday morning to strengthen cooperation with neighboring 
countries in order to send a clear message to North Korea that its 
provocations will come at a price. 
 "We are going to break the past pattern (of rewarding North Korea's 
bad behavior)," President Obama said, adding, "Belligerent, 
provocative behavior that threatens neighbors will be met with 
significant and serious enforcement of sanctions that are in place." 
 He also urged North Korea to take a path towards peace and economic 
growth through denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.  President 
Lee said, "North Korea will clearly realize that its past strategy 
of backing off in the middle of negotiations will no longer work," 
adding, "We hope that North Korea will abandon its past methods soon 
 
SEOUL 00000965  009 OF 009 
 
 
and join the international community." 
 
President Lee said, "North Korea is making reckless demands about 
the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC), and if North Korea continues 
to make excessive demands, I cannot assure the North what decision 
the ROKG will make on the KIC issue," and urged Pyongyang to release 
an ROK employee with the surname Yu and two U.S. female journalists, 
who are being detained in North Korea. 
 
Presidents Lee and Obama declared a "joint vision" for the ROK-U.S. 
alliance based on shared beliefs and trust in free democracy and the 
market economy.  The document has 10 parts and pledges to "maintain 
a robust defense posture," expressing "continuing commitment of 
extended deterrence, including the U.S. nuclear umbrella." 
 
Regarding the transfer of wartime operational control of ROK troops 
from the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command to the ROK, which is 
scheduled for 2012, the two leaders said that, while monitoring 
North Korea's threats and the security situation on the Korean 
Peninsula, they will regularly check to determine if preparations 
for the transfer are going well.  If there is anything that needs to 
be changed, both the ROK and U.S. will review it and complement the 
plan through close discussions.  Based on the view that the 
stability and reconstruction of Afghanistan and Pakistan is 
important for world peace, the two leaders agreed to continue to 
cooperate with each other on this issue, but they did not talk about 
the deployment of ROK troops to the region, according to a Blue 
House official. 
 
 
On the Korea-U.S. Free Tree Agreement (FTA), the two leaders also 
agreed to "make joint efforts to chart our way forward."  President 
Obama noted that he will send the FTA to Congress for a vote at a 
time that Americans and South Koreans think is appropriate. 
 
STANTON