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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SEOUL 001371 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; August 26, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------- 
 
Chosun Ilbo, Dong-a Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, Hankyoreh Shinmun, Segye 
Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun, All TVs 
ROK's First Space Rocket Lifts Off Successfully, 
but Fails to Place Satellite into Intended Orbit 
 
JoongAng Ilbo 
Cabinet Reshuffle Set for Next Week; 
Prime Minister Han Expected to be Replaced 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
Red Cross officials from the two Koreas will meet today for 
three-day talks to discuss resuming reunions of separated families 
for the Oct. 3 Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) holiday. (All) 
 
The reported invitation by North Korea to Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. 
Special Representative for North Korea Policy, to visit Pyongyang is 
attracting attention because Ambassador Bosworth's visit can be 
interpreted as a "prelude" to bilateral talks between the two 
countries. (Chosun) However, given Washington's consistent position 
that bilateral talks with North Korea are possible only within the 
Six-Party Talks framework, the U.S. is likely to decide on the 
Ambassador's visit only after verifying the North's seriousness 
about denuclearization. (Chosun, Dong-a, Hankook, Hankyoreh, Seoul, 
all TVs) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
-N. Korea 
---------- 
Today's resumption of inter-Korean Red Cross talks to discuss 
arranging separated family reunions for the Oct. 3 Chuseok (Korean 
Thanksgiving) holiday received wide press coverage.  According to 
media reports, the meeting, which will take place at the North's Mt. 
Kumgang resort until August 28, will be the first of its kind since 
the launch of the Lee Myung-bak Administration and is part of the 
recent series of "conciliatory gestures" by North Korea toward the 
ROK. 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo carried a front-page analysis entitled "Two 
Koreas to Resume Red Cross Talks Today; N. Korea Makes Conciliatory 
Gestures with Nuclear Weapons in Hands."  The analysis argued: "At 
first glance, inter-Korean relations seem to be getting back on 
track.  However, this is nothing more than an illusion, because the 
North is refusing to budge an inch on its nuclear problem, the key 
pending issue between the two Koreas." 
 
Most newspapers and TV networks reported that North Korea had 
invited Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. Special Representative for North 
Korea Policy, to visit Pyongyang. 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo observed that Ambassador Bosworth's visit 
to Pyongyang, if realized, can be interpreted as a "prelude" to 
direct talks between the two countries on pending issues, including 
the North Korean nuclear issue.  Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo cited 
USG officials and U.S. experts as attributing North Korea's apparent 
return to negotiations to UNSC Resolution 1874, which has cut off 
the flow of funds to North Korea. 
 
Most newspapers, including Chosun, and TV networks, however, noted 
Washington's consistent position that bilateral talks with North 
Korea are possible only within the Six-Party Talks framework, and 
speculated that the U.S. is likely to decide on the Ambassador's 
visit only after verifying the North's seriousness about 
denuclearization. 
 
 
SEOUL 00001371  002 OF 002 
 
 
In a related development, State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly was 
widely quoted: "The atmospherics of the last month or so are 
certainly more productive than when the North Koreans were shooting 
off missiles and detaining journalists.  But I don't see  any real 
specific movement in (North Korea) towards resuming the Six-Party 
Talks.." 
 
 
FEATURES 
-------- 
 
¶N. KOREA 'INVITES U.S. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE' 
(Chosun Ilbo, August 26, 2009, page 6) 
 
By Reporter Lim Min-hyuk 
Will North Korea find a breakthrough in bilateral talks with the 
U.S. by extending an invitation to (U.S. Special Representative for 
North Korea Policy Stephen) Bosworth (to visit Pyongyang?) 
 
Recently North Korea has launched a "charm offensive" to realize 
bilateral talks with the U.S. and conveyed a message to the U.S. 
that it hopes for Bosworth's visit to Pyongyang. 
 
Diplomatic sources in Seoul and Washington on Monday said the North 
asked on two or three occasions recently whether Ambassador Bosworth 
and Special Envoy for the Six-Party Talks Sung Kim could visit 
Pyongyang, a clear shift from early this year, when it declined a 
visit from Bosworth. 
 
Ambassador Bosworth's visit to Pyongyang, if realized, can be 
interpreted as a "prelude" to direct talks between the two countries 
on pending issues, including the North Korean nuclear issue.  Former 
President Bill Clinton's visit to Pyongyang early this month was a 
"one-point" approach to secure the release of female reporters. 
Meanwhile, Ambassador Bosworth's visit would provide an opportunity 
for the U.S. and North Korea to discuss all pending issues including 
the nuclear issue. 
 
The prevailing opinion is that Bosworth's visit to the North will 
not be made soon.  The U.S. government is saying North Korea must 
return to the Six-Party Talks and any dialogue would be possible 
only within that framework.  A decision about a visit from Bosworth 
would be made only if North Korea demonstrates its willingness to 
scrap its nuclear program.  "Bosworth's visit will happen someday," 
one diplomatic source in Seoul said.  "But it's not likely to happen 
in September."  Washington is still maintaining a hard stance.  The 
U.S. will not hastily pursue talks with the North.  State Department 
Spokesman Ian Kelly said in a briefing, "I don't see any real 
specific movement in (North Korea) towards resuming the Six-Party 
Talks." 
." 
 
However, other speculation has it that the U.S. government could be 
more ready to accept Pyongyang's request if there are hopes of an 
early resumption of the stalled Six-Party Talks.  In one scenario, 
Bosworth will visit North Korea after making prior consultations 
with the ROK, China, Russia and Japan to obtain their consent.  If 
the U.S. engages in full consultations with related parties to 
restart the Six-Party Talks, it will give Bosworth a justification 
to visit Pyongyang without impairing the major premise that the 
bilateral talks should be held within the Six-Party Talks. 
 
(We have compared the English version on the website with the Korean 
version and added some paragraphs to make them identical.) 
 
 
TOKOLA