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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 SEOUL 001598 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; October 8, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------- 
 
Chosun Ilbo 
ROK Universities Move Up in World University Rankings; Seoul 
National University Placed 47th, KAIST 69th 
 
JoongAng Ilbo 
Vice Education Minister Lee Joo-ho Vows Not to Aid Universities Next 
Year If They Create Controversy in Selecting Students through 
Admissions Officer System This Year 
 
Dong-a Ilbo 
90 Percent of Parole Applications Approved; 
from 2004 to August This Year, 8,820 Heinous Criminals 
were Released before Their Prison Terms Expired 
 
Hankook Ilbo 
With Countries Poised to Withdraw Stimulus Policies 
Following Australia's Rate Hike, ROKG Reiterates 
"Too Early to Exit Stimulus" 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun 
Blue House Denies Allegations of Pressuring Telecom Companies for 25 
Billion Won in Donations 
 
Segye Ilbo 
President Lee to Give More Power to Able State Firm Leaders 
 
Seoul Shinmun, All TVs 
Obama to Visit Seoul Nov. 18-19 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
According to the Blue House, President Barack Obama will visit Seoul 
from Nov. 18-19 for a summit with President Lee Myung-bak. The two 
leaders are expected to discuss pending issues, including the North 
Korean nuclear issue. (All) 
 
Visiting U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and 
Public Affairs Judith A. McHale visited Chosun Ilbo yesterday. She 
was quoted as saying: "Bill Gates' recommendation to go to Korea was 
not a joke. Korea's media technological innovations, such as e-books 
and T-papers, are amazing." (Chosun) 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 
------------------- 
 
A senior State Department official said on Oct. 6 that the U.S. will 
not agree to one-on-one talks with North Korea unless it is given 
assurances in advance that the outcome will be an agreement to 
resume the Six-Party Talks. (Hankook, Hankyoreh, Segye, Seoul) 
 
Referring to China's recent massive economic aid to North Korea, an 
ROK Foreign Ministry official said yesterday that Seoul, via a 
diplomatic channel, has reconfirmed that there is no change in 
China's commitment to faithfully implement UN Security Council 
resolutions against North Korea. (JoongAng, Dong-a) 
 
According to a source in Beijing knowledgeable about North Korean 
affairs, China is preparing to provide North Korea with free aid 
worth an estimated 200 million Yuan following Premier Wen Jiabao's 
visit to Pyongyang. (Dong-a) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
-N. Korea 
--------- 
 
SEOUL 00001598  002 OF 004 
 
 
Most media gave attention to Oct. 6 remarks by a senior State 
Department official, quoting him as saying that the U.S. will not 
agree to one-on-one talks with North Korea unless it is given 
assurances in advance that the outcome will be an agreement  to 
resume the Six-Party Talks. 
 
With regard to China's recent offer of massive aid to North Korea, 
right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo quoted an ROKG official as saying 
yesterday: "China wouldn't have violated UN Security Council 
Resolution 1874 against North Korea as one of five permanent UNSC 
members.  However, it is true that there is concern that China's $20 
million aid to North Korea, coming at a sensitive time when the 
international community squeezes the North's money flow through 
sanctions, may undermine the effect of sanctions directly and 
indirectly." 
 
Citing an ROK Foreign Ministry official, right-of-center JoongAng 
Ilbo and conservative Dong-a Ilbo reported that the ROKG, via a 
diplomatic channel, has reconfirmed that there is no change in 
China's commitment to faithfully implement UNSC resolutions against 
North Korea. 
 
JoongAng Ilbo editorialized: "China has the greatest leverage over 
North Korea.  ... This is why China's participation in sanctioning 
North Korea following its second nuclear test was so important.  The 
fact that the sanctions against North Korea have paid off so far is 
also due to China's participation.  In this regard, regardless of 
its scale, China's offer of a 'bag of gifts' to North Korea is 
inappropriate, especially when the sanctions against the country 
remain in place." 
 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
------------------- 
 
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON N. KOREA SHOULD NOT BE DISRUPTED 
(JoongAng Ilbo, October 8, 2009, page 46) 
 
During his visit to Pyongyang, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao reportedly 
offered massive economic aid to North Korea.  This has sparked 
concern that international cooperation to enforce sanctions against 
North Korea is suffering a setback.  Some observers say that China's 
offer of economic aid to North Korea may constitute a violation of 
UN Security Resolution 1874 which was adopted in June.  If this is 
the case, it seems to present a serious problem.  China, which has 
joined in sanctioning North Korea under UN resolutions since North 
Korea's second nuclear test, is moving away from international 
cooperation.  This also deals a blow to Six-Party countries' 
"two-track strategy" of sanctions and dialogue. 
 
The ROK's Foreign Ministry yesterday said that the Chinese 
government officially explained to the ROKG about the overall 
results of Premier Wen's visit to Pyongyang via a diplomatic 
channel.  The ROKG said that China has reconfirmed that there is no 
change in its commitment to faithfully implement UNSC resolutions 
against North Korea.  According to Chinese and North Korean media, 
Premier Wen signed agreements on economic cooperation with Pyongyang 
but the details have not yet been disclosed.  However, considering 
the past record, China is presumed to have offered considerable free 
aid including food and energy assistance. 
 
Our common sense is that China, a permanent member of the UN 
Security Council and responsible member of the international 
community, must have considered whether its offer of economic aid to 
North Korea might constitute a violation of UNSC resolutions.  But 
if China pledged to provide massive economic assistance that goes 
beyond the requirements of UNSC resolutions, this should be taken 
seriously.  UNSC Resolution 1874 calls upon (all nations and 
financial institutions) not to enter into new commitments for 
grants, financial assistance, and concessional loans except for 
humanitarian and development purpose or denuclearization purpose. 
Small-scale humanitarian aid such as food or medical assistance is 
not a problem but massive free aid could be in violation of UNSC 
resolutions. 
 
SEOUL 00001598  003 OF 004 
 
 
 
China has the greatest leverage over North Korea.  Unless China 
takes active steps, sanctions against North Korea will become 
meaningless.  This is why China's participation in sanctioning North 
Korea following its second nuclear test was so important.  The fact 
that the sanctions against North Korea have paid off so far is also 
due to China's participation.  In this regard, regardless of its 
scale, China's offer of a 'bag of gifts' to North Korea is 
inappropriate, especially when the sanctions against the country 
remain in place. 
 
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il took a dubious attitude by 
expressing a conditional willingness to return to the Six-Party 
Talks.  It is odd that China offered huge gifts to the North to gain 
this (small) result.  If China unilaterally decided to provide 
massive free aid to Pyongyang without prior consultations with the 
other Six-Party countries, this casts doubt over China's willingness 
to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.  In a summit involving the 
ROK, China and Japan, which will take place in Beijing in October 
10, China should provide a clear explanation of (its actions.) 
 
 
 
 
FEATURES 
-------- 
 
UNDER SECRETARY MCHALE: "BILL GATES' RECOMMENDATION TO GO TO KOREA 
WAS NOT A JOKE" 
(Chosun Ilbo, October 8, 2009, Page 30) 
 
By Reporter Choi Woo-suk 
 
U.S. Under Secretary of State McHale visits Chosun Ilbo... "Media 
technological innovations, such as e-books and T-papers, are 
amazing." 
 
"Korea's media technological innovations, such as e-paper 
newspapers, mobile news, e-books, and T-papers, are amazing." 
 
U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public 
Affairs Judith A. McHale made the statement on October 7 after being 
briefed on developments in Korea's media industry.  She added, 
"Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates recommended visiting Korea to see 
technological innovations, and that was not a joke."  In particular, 
after looking around the "U Media Lab," Chosun Ilbo's exhibition 
hall of newspapers of the future, she noted, "I have seen the future 
of newspapers.  This can set a good example for U.S. newspapers, 
which are having difficulty." 
 
Under Secretary McHale, the former CEO of the American prominent 
media company, Discovery Communications, also took a lot of interest 
in cross-media projects, such as Chosun Ilbo's documentaries on 
North Korean defectors (titled "Crossing Heaven's Border") and on 
Asian women and alienated children (titled "Our Asia").  "Cross 
media" refers to airing the same content through a variety of media 
forms, such as newspaper, broadcasting, DMB (Digital Multimedia 
Broadcasting) and IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), at the same 
time.  She said, "Discovery Communications also produced cross-media 
programs involving newspapers and broadcasts in partnership with The 
New York Times or the U.K.'s BBC.  Chosun Ilbo's efforts will 
succeed." 
 
Under Secretary McHale, who arrived in Korea on October 5 for the 
first time for a four-day, three-night trip, is in charge of 
improving the U.S.'s image abroad under the Obama Administration. 
She said, "In order to get a deep understanding of Korea, I am only 
visiting Korea (on this trip.)."  It is highly unusual for a 
high-ranking USG official to make an official visit to Korea for 
several days. 
 
During her visit to Korea, Under Secretary McHale listened 
intensively to the views which Koreans have about the U.S. by 
meeting with college students, opposition leaders and 
 
SEOUL 00001598  004 OF 004 
 
 
businesspeople. 
 
The daughter of a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, Under Secretary 
McHale grew up in Britain and South Africa and graduated from the 
University of Nottingham in the U.K. and Fordham University School 
of Law in New York.  After starting her career as General Counsel 
for MTV Networks in the 1980s, she moved to Discovery Communications 
in 1987 and served as its COO, CEO, and President.  During her 
tenure, Discovery Channel grew into a renowned global media 
enterprise with 1.4 billion subscribers in 170 countries. 
 
 
TOKOLA