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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SEOUL 001442 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; September 9, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------- 
 
Chosun Ilbo, All TVs 
Ssangyong Workers Vote to Quit the Korean 
Confederation of Trade Union 
 
JoongAng Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, All TVs 
ROKG Demands Apology from North Korea over Release of Water; 
Investigates Whether It Was Intentional 
 
Dong-a Ilbo 
Actress Choi Gang-hee: "'Painful Tears of Glacier' Made me Decide 
Not to Use Disposable Cups" 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun 
The Ruling Party Sets Out to Roll Back Sejong City Plan 
 
Segye Ilbo 
ROKG Suggests Possibility that North Korean Military May Be Involved 
in Dam Discharge 
 
Seoul Shinmun 
ROK and U.S. Intelligence Authorities: "There Is No Sign of Crack in 
North Korea's Hwang River and Upstream Dams" 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
The ROK's Unification Ministry said yesterday that it found 
unacceptable the North's explanation that it had released water from 
one of its dams on Sunday on the Imjin River because water levels on 
its side of the border have surged. Unification Ministry Spokesman 
Chun Hae-sung said in a statement, "The ROKG demands an apology and 
sufficient explanation from North Korea for causing South Korean 
deaths." (All, All TVs) 
 
ROK health authorities confirmed yesterday that the A (H1N1) virus 
was the direct cause of the brain death of a woman who was infected 
with the new flue. (All, All TVs) 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 
------------------ 
 
At a September 7 press conference, Iranian President Mahmoud 
Ahmadinejad affirmed Iran's right to pursue a nuclear program, 
saying that the country will not negotiate its "nuclear right." 
(Chosun, Hankook) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
-N. Korea developments 
----------------------- 
 
All ROK media gave prominent attention to the ROK's Unification 
Ministry's September 8 statement saying that the ROKG found 
unacceptable the North's explanation that it had released water from 
one of its dams on Sunday on the Imjin River because water levels on 
its side of the border have surged.  The ROK media quoted 
Unification Ministry Spokesman Chun Hae-sung as saying, "The ROKG 
demands an apology and sufficient explanation from North Korea for 
causing South Korean deaths."   Moderate Seoul Shinmun reported in 
its front-page story that ROK and U.S. intelligence authorities 
found no sign of a crack in North Korea's Hwang River and upstream 
dams and that therefore some observers are raising a possibility 
that North Korea deliberately unleashed water from its dam. 
 
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized: "Expectations have run 
high that inter-Korean relations will improve due to the North's 
 
SEOUL 00001442  002 OF 003 
 
 
recent conciliatory moves.  However, this incident (of North Korea's 
dam discharge) put a damper on this positive atmosphere... If North 
Korea genuinely wants to warm relations with the ROK, it should 
realize the need to calm down the ROK's anger first over the release 
of water from its dam." 
 
- Afghanistan - reports of election fraud, 
----------------------------------------- 
airstrike incident fallout 
-------------------------- 
 
Moderate Hankook Ilbo reported that according to the Associated 
Press, incumbent President Hamid Karzai has passed the crucial 50% 
threshold in Afghanistan's presidential election with almost all the 
votes counted, but a partial recount has been ordered after 
observers found "clear and convincing evidence of fraud" at a number 
of polling stations. 
 
In addition, left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun and Hankook Ilbo 
observed in its inside-page story that the German government is in a 
quandary over NATO's September 4 attack on Taliban militants in 
Kunduz province, Afghanistan, in which it is believed that civilians 
lost their lives.   Germany is at odds with the U.S. over who is 
responsible for the fatal attack.  Hankook Ilbo cited the British 
Financial Times as reporting on September 8 that this incident may 
put German Chancellor Angela Merkel's reelection at risk. 
 
 
- Convictions of UK airline bomb plotters 
----------------------------------------- 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun carried reports on the 
conviction of three British men for plotting to blow up 
transatlantic airliners in 2006.  The media noted that the plot, if 
realized, would have threatened to surpass the September 11 attacks 
in 2001 in terms of the number of potential victims. 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
------------------- 
 
WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PUT PRESSURE ON PYONGYANG TO MAKE PROGRESS ON 
NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR ISSUE 
(JoongAng Ilbo, September 9, 2009, Page 45; Excerpts) 
 
Recently, a prevalent view among some experts is that as long as 
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is in charge, it is difficult to 
resolve the nuclear issue.  This pessimistic view is based on the 
"naove" expectation that since Kim is not in good health, the North 
Korean regime will soon change, and then, after that, the nuclear 
issue will be resolved.  This thought is highly likely to result in 
a policy of "neglecting" the North Korean nuclear issue.  This 
policy suggests that since we cannot anticipate the resolution of 
the nuclear issue at the moment, we might as well wait until the Kim 
Jong-il regime collapses. 
 
There are three ways of dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue. 
 The first one is a "benign neglect" strategy.  However, if we 
declare that the Six-Party Talks are over and discontinue diplomatic 
efforts, North Korea will likely take advantage of the current 
situation.  If Pyongyang resumes its nuclear programs and enlarges 
its nuclear arsenal, it will be very difficult to control the 
situation.  The second one is a "malign neglect" strategy.  This 
involves a regime change in the North through economic or financial 
sanctions but, to this end, we should tackle uncertainties in the 
North and persuade China to accept U.S.- and ROK-led unification of 
the Korean Peninsula.  The third one is a pressure tactic.  This 
tactic is to put pressure on the North, but only in order to bring 
the North back to the Six-Party Talks for progress on the nuclear 
issue. 
 
In the end, the only realistic option we can choose is the third 
one.  By imposing sanctions against Pyongyang under UN Security 
Council Resolution 1874, we pose a threat to North Korea's "regime 
security" and urge the communist state to return to the Six-Party 
 
SEOUL 00001442  003 OF 003 
 
 
Talks.  After recently feeling the effects of UNSC 1874, North Korea 
seems to have launched a charm offensive on the U.S. and the ROK. 
This change of attitude (on the part of North Korea) is largely 
attributed to China, which joined in the pressure on the North. 
 
The reason why the North insists on bilateral talks with the U.S. is 
to break up a "pressure front" formed by China, the U.S., Japan, 
Russia, and the ROK by improving relations with the U.S.  China, the 
biggest beneficiary of the Six-Party Talks, agrees (to this 
assessment).   U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy 
Stephen Bosworth, who recently visited Seoul, also said, "I don't 
think there's been any fundamental change (in the North.)  We're 
prepared to engage bilaterally as well with the North Koreans, but 
only in the context of the Six-Party process and in order to 
facilitate the Six-Party exercise."  The determination of Japan and 
Russia toward the denuclearization of North Korea is also strong. 
The ultimate resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue is to draw 
North Korea into a "new world" by continuing pressure on the North 
based on close cooperation among the five nations and the 
international community. 
 
 
TOKOLA