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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 SEOUL 001620 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; October 14, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------- 
 
Chosun Ilbo, Segye Ilbo, All TVs 
Koreas to Hold Talks on Flood Prevention Today 
 
JoongAng Ilbo 
ROK Military Poorly-Equipped Due to Lack of Money 
 
Dong-a Ilbo 
ROKG Stays Cool amid Latest N. Korea Missile Launches 
 
Hankook Ilbo 
"Dialogue Mood" Sets in between Two Koreas 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun 
Ruling Camp Considers Revising Sejong City Project to Make Sejong a 
City Equipped with Green Growth Industries, Educational and Research 
Facilities 
 
Seoul Shinmun 
"Two-Faced N. Korea:" N. Korea Accepts Seoul's Proposal 
for Talks One Day after Test-firing Missiles 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
According to the Unification Ministry, North Korea has accepted 
Seoul's proposal for inter-Korean talks this week over flood 
prevention and humanitarian issues. The North's latest conciliatory 
gesture comes one day after it test-fired five short-range missiles 
off its east coast. (All) 
 
According to an ROKG source, the ROK military is on the alert for 
more North Korean short-range missile tests after the North declared 
a navigation ban also in the West Sea. (Chosun, Dong-a, Segye, 
Seoul) 
 
The ROKG yesterday refrained from making an official response to 
North Korea's Oct. 12 missile launches. This move seems to have come 
out of consideration of the upcoming working-level talks with North 
Korea slated for today and tomorrow. (Dong-a, Seoul) 
 
U.S. NASA Chief Charles Bolden, Jr. said at the International 
Astronautical Congress in Daejeon that future cooperation with the 
ROK would be possible in such areas as lunar exploration, satellites 
and the field of aeronautics. (Chosun, Hankyoreh, Segye) 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 
------------------ 
 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during an Oct. 13 press 
conference in Russia, said "We have absolutely no intention of 
relaxing or offering to relax North Korean sanctions at this point 
whatsoever." (Chosun, all TVs) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
-N. Korea 
--------- 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo and all TV networks gave coverage to Oct. 
13 press remarks in Russia by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in 
which she said: "We have absolutely no intention of relaxing or 
offering to relax North Korean sanctions at this point whatsoever." 
 
 
North Korea's acceptance yesterday of Seoul's proposal for 
inter-Korean talks over flood prevention and humanitarian issues 
received wide press attention.  Most media noted that this 
conciliatory North Korean gesture came one day after it test-fired 
 
SEOUL 00001620  002 OF 007 
 
 
five short-range missiles off its east coast, and criticized the 
North's two-faced attitude of conducting missile tests while at the 
same time seeking negotiations. 
 
Most media also reported that the ROK military is on the alert for 
more North Korean short-range missile tests after the North declared 
a navigation ban also in the West Sea.  A ROKG source was quoted as 
saying: "Although there are no concrete signs of preparations for 
missile tests yet, we're watching closely in the West Sea." 
 
The ROKG's low-profile response to North Korea's Oct. 12 missile 
launches also received wide press attention.  An ROK Foreign 
Ministry official was quoted: "The North's missile launch was a 
violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874, but we have no 
plan to make an official announcement." 
 
Most newspapers observed that this ROKG move is in stark contrast to 
its reaction after Pyongyang's July 4 launch of one short-range and 
six mid-range missiles over the East Sea, and seems to have come out 
of consideration of the upcoming working-level talks with North 
Korea slated for today and tomorrow. 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized: "UN sanctions against North 
Korea have been undermined by China's recent offer of massive aid to 
North Korea.  ... In this situation, the ROKG is also considering 
providing the North with 10,000 to 30,000 tons of rice. ... If we 
pull the teeth out of the sanctions against North Korea even before 
starting talks with North Korea, we cannot reach the goal of 
denuclearizing North Korea." 
 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
------------------- 
 
CO2 EMISSIONS AND GDP 
(Dong-a Ilbo, October 14, 2009, page 38) 
 
By Editorial writer Park Yeong-kyun 
 
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announced Oct. 2 that 1,000 U.S. mayors 
signed an agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with 
Kyoto Protocol standards.  The mayors urged the U.S. federal and 
state governments to cut greenhouse gas emissions seven percent from 
1990 levels by 2012.  In 2005, Seattle cut CO2 levels eight percent 
and Los Angeles seven percent from 1990 levels.  The U.S. has been 
criticized for its lukewarm effort to cut such emissions, but the 
amount of greenhouse gases reduced due to voluntary efforts by state 
governments is equivalent to that of the European Union and Japan. 
 
In the growth rate of CO2 emissions since 1990, the ROK ranked first 
among member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation 
and Development.  According to the International Energy Agency, the 
ROK's CO2 emissions in 2007 jumped a whopping 113 percent from 1990, 
the highest growth in the OECD.  The country also remained the 
world's ninth-largest greenhouse gas emitter between 2006 and 2007, 
following China, the U.S., Russia, India, Japan, Germany, Canada and 
Britain. 
 
It makes sense that CO2emissions increase when GDP increases because 
of (the effect of) economic growth.  Economic growth explains why 
China, dubbed "the world's factory," has become the world's largest 
CO2emitter and why other emerging economies such as Russia and India 
rank high on the list.  The ROK is different, however.  Korea's 
nominal GDP ranked 11th in the world in 2003 but fell behind those 
of India, Brazil, Russia and Australia to drop four notches to 15th 
place in 2007.  Nevertheless, the level of ROK's CO2 emissions has 
remained unchanged because its economy is heavily dependent on 
manufacturing, which uses coal and produces a large amount of carbon 
emissions. 
 
At this year's U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, global 
leaders will discuss the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions after 
¶2013.  The ROK is highly likely to be subject to mandatory caps on 
emissions.  At a U.N. climate conference last month, leaders of 
 
SEOUL 00001620  003 OF 007 
 
 
major economies such as the U.S., China and India promised to cut 
emissions.  The European Union announced a cut of 20 percent and 
Japan 25 percent from 1990 levels and the U.S. 17 percent from 2005 
levels.  The ROK has suggested three scenarios: increasing 
greenhouse gas emissions no more than eight percent; a stop to a 
further rise of emissions; or a cut of four percent from 2005 
levels.  Yet just a few years are left before 2013.  The ROK must 
urgently pursue a green growth strategy contributing to reducing CO2 
emissions. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
USING IMJIN RIVER TALKS TO SHIFT N. KOREA POLICY 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, October 14, 2009, page 35) 
 
This week, a group of meetings is scheduled between South Korean and 
North Korean authorities.  They have agreed to hold working-level 
talks in Kaesong on Wednesday in order to prevent a reoccurrence of 
the Imjin River flood disaster, and a Red Cross working-level 
meeting on Friday.  Apart from the Red Cross talks, where matters 
such as reunions for separated families during the Chuseok holiday 
and humanitarian aid to North Korea were discussed, this is the 
first time in over three months that authorities from the two 
countries have met directly.  The third set of working-level talks 
in July which discussed issues pertaining to economic collaboration 
on the Kaesong Industrial Complex was the last time the two 
countries met.  This is the first positive news in some time for 
people concerned that North Korea's relations with the U.S. and 
China are advancing ahead of its relations with the ROK. 
 
When the ROK proposed these talks and a schedule, North Korea 
accepted immediately without modifications.  This is another 
indication of North Korea's active determination to improve 
inter-Korean relations that has been sustained continuously ever 
since the mourning delegation's visit to pay their respects at the 
memorial service of late President Kim Dae-jung in Aug.  It also 
coincides with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's statement at the 
second trilateral leaders' meeting of China, the ROK and Japan on 
Saturday, when he remarked that North Korea's intent to improve 
inter-Korean relations was the strongest sense he felt during his 
visit to North Korea. 
 
On the other hand, although the ROK first proposed the dialogue, it 
still seems that it delayed too long in setting the meeting.  One 
cannot erase the sense that authorities waited and failed to take 
action following the Imjin River flood disaster, when talk was rife 
about the need for inter-Korean dialogue to prevent similar 
incidents from occurring in the future, and were only compelled to 
take action after China's strong urging to engage in dialogue.  The 
status and level of the dialogue also appear to be merely 
working-level and casual, in contrast to the actions of North Korea, 
the U.S. and China, which are taking the first steps in the broader 
scheme of things toward a solution for the North Korean nuclear 
issue through dialogue. 
 
There are important matters to address at the Imjin River talks. 
Responsibility for the disaster needs to be clearly established, and 
a plan needs to be set in place so that the incident is not 
repeated.  At the Red Cross talks, it is important to stress that 
separated family members who do not have long to live should be 
allowed to meet and not be forced to wait for a holiday or special 
occasion, and that food aid would be provided to North Koreans 
suffering from starvation.  North Korea, for its part, should not 
simply make demands, but give an explanation and express its remorse 
for its role in the Imjin River disaster. 
 
The list of matters to discuss, however, should not stop there.  As 
inter-Korean relations remain stagnant, North Korea and China are 
rapidly growing closer in political and economic terms.  While the 
ROK is focusing only on sanctions against North Korea, its ability 
to make its voice heard on issues related to the Korean Peninsula is 
growing weaker. Without an improvement in inter-Korean relations, it 
 
SEOUL 00001620  004 OF 007 
 
 
will be difficult for us to play a greater role in regional affairs. 
 We hope the Lee Administration uses this series of talks as an 
opportunity to affect a major shift in its North Korea policy. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
¶N. KOREA IS BACK ON TOP OF ITS GAME 
(Chosun Ilbo, October 14, 2009, page 39) 
 
North Korea fired five short-range missiles from its eastern coast 
on Monday capable of hitting targets 120 km away.  The missiles pose 
one of the greatest threats to the ROK.  North Korea also declared 
an area off South Pyongan Province in the west off-limits to ships, 
which suggests it is preparing to fire missiles from its western 
coast as well. 
 
From April to July, North Korea fired a total of 18 missiles and 
conducted one nuclear test.  For three months after that, it 
appeared to have calmed down.  Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who 
visited Pyongyang early this month, told President Lee Myung-bak and 
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, "This is the time to talk to 
North Korea."  But now the North has conducted another series of 
missile tests even before the echo of Wen's comments had gone 
silent. 
 
The missile tests violate UN Security Council resolutions.  UN 
sanctions against North Korea have been undermined by China's recent 
offer of massive aid to North Korea.  In this situation, the ROKG is 
also considering providing the North with 10,000 to 30,000 tons of 
rice.  At this point, who is in a position to call for additional 
sanctions against the North for violating the UN resolutions? 
 
The ROKG said the missile tests could be part of North Korea's 
efforts to improve the range of the missiles.  In other words, the 
latest missile launches may not be attempts by North Korea to 
pressure the ROK, the U.S. and the international community.  The 
U.S. is trying hard to ignore the tests, apparently because 
Washington wants to minimize the impact and continue in an 
atmosphere of dialogue. 
 
Even countries that are at war with each other hold talks.  What 
matters is their purpose.  Sanctions and dialogue are both part of 
the two-pronged strategy to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear 
weapons program.  Sanctions alone will not be effective, and talks 
will not be able to end the nuclear standoff.  The key lesson from 
past disasters is that sanctions and dialogue must be pursued 
together. 
 
But if we pull the teeth out of the sanctions against North Korea 
even before starting talks with North Korea, we cannot reach the 
goal of denuclearizing North Korea.  The situation has deteriorated 
to this level because the ROK, the U.S., China and Japan have all 
either taken individual steps to talk with North Korea or have taken 
part in measures that weaken UN sanctions without agreeing on a 
concerted strategy. 
 
As if nothing had happened, only a day after its missile launches 
North Korea accepted an ROK proposal for talks to control the 
release of water from dams along the Imjin River and to discuss 
additional reunions of separate families. Pyongyang has regained 
control of the situation. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
¶N. KOREA'S DUAL ATTITUDE 
(JoongAng Ilbo, October 14, 2009, page 46) 
 
Inter-Korean talks will take place starting today to discuss ways to 
prevent damage from flooding at the Imjin River.  The ROKG proposed 
talks with North Korea two days ago and North Korea accepted the 
 
SEOUL 00001620  005 OF 007 
 
 
offer in one day.  The talks will be working-level but will carry 
significance in that inter-Korean talks, which have been stalled for 
almost two years, will resume.  However, North Korea launched five 
short-range missiles over the East Sea on the same day that the ROKG 
proposed the talks.  This violates the UN Security Council 
Resolution that bans test-firing of ballistic missiles.  It seems 
that North Korea fired the missiles in response to the two-track 
policy by the ROK, the U.S. and Japan to pursue both pressure and 
dialogue at the same time to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. 
 North Korea is making deliberate moves to leverage its bargaining 
position prior to talks with the U.S.  We need to understand North 
Korea's intentions properly in order to respond to them effectively. 
 
 
We assume that North Korea has agreed to the inter-Korean talks 
based on its judgment that talks with the U.S. will not go smoothly 
unless tensions on the Korean Peninsula abate.  This assumption 
seems reasonable in that North Korea agreed to talk with the ROK on 
agenda items that include the North's apology for the unannounced 
discharge of the Hwanggang Dam and measures to prevent recurrence of 
such an incident.  (Previously) the North would not have easily 
accepted these agenda items as topics for discussion even when there 
was a thaw in inter-Korean relations.  In the same vein, North Korea 
agreed to hold talks focused on arranging reunions of families 
separated by the Korean War.  Whatever their motive, North Korea's 
willingness to discuss the agenda is a positive sign.  We hope that 
this will facilitate further inter-Korean talks and pave the way for 
inter-Korean issues to be settled quickly.  In addition, we urge 
North Korea to work on ways to resolve the nuclear issue at the 
inter-Korean talks. 
 
North Korea's intentions behind the missile launches appear much 
more complicated.  The KN-02 missiles North Korea fired this time 
are an updated version (of the Russian SS-21.)  Analysts say that 
the missiles will strike not only the metropolitan area and 
Pyeongtaek naval base but also Pyeongtaek's U.S. military bases, 
which are currently under construction.  It seems that North Korea 
intended to put military pressure on the ROK and the U.S. by 
displaying improved missile capabilities.  North Korea wanted to 
prove that joint U.S.-ROK military forces would not be able to 
easily respond to its missile launches because its missiles use 
solid fuel and are fired from mobile launchers.  North Korea also 
seemed to have a political intention to gain a stronger bargaining 
position in talks with the U.S.  North Korea apparently is seeking 
to become more insistent in its demands while the U.S is expected to 
focus on the North's nuclear dismantlement.  North Korea is calling 
on the U.S. to shift its antagonistic policy toward the North.  In 
this regard, North Korea is directly targeting the alliance between 
the ROK and the U.S.  North Korea is likely to demand that the U.S. 
back off its commitment to extend a nuclear umbrella over the ROK 
and that the U.S. pull its forces out of the Korean Peninsula in 
return for the North accepting U.S. demands.  This is what the ROK 
should be most cautious about. 
 
Whatever motives North Korea has, we should rein in the situation 
according to our objectives and plans.  We should devise ways to 
maximize our national interest by considering many factors such as 
inter-Korean relations, North Korea-China relations, ROK-U.S. 
relations and U.S.-North dialogue.  To this end, we should take 
action strategically and promptly based on the rational and careful 
judgment without being swayed by the fast-changing situation.  The 
ROKG's capability in diplomacy and security will be tested from now 
on. 
 
 
FEATURES 
--------- 
 
"OBAMA EFFECT;" WIND OF RECONCILIATION BLOWING AROUND THE GLOBE 
(JoongAng Ilbo, October 14, 2009, Page 14) 
 
By Reporter Nam Jung-ho 
 
Way to a World beyond Borders 
 
SEOUL 00001620  006 OF 007 
 
 
 
Although there is some controversy over U.S. President Barack 
Obama's winning of the Nobel Peace Prize, it is true that a "balmy 
breeze of reconciliation" started to blow in every corner of the 
world.  Obama's style of "Smart Power" - a policy under which the 
U.S. breaks with unilateralism and uses a proper combination of 
military power and diplomatic resolutions - is changing the global 
atmosphere.  This is the result of Obama's efforts toward the "world 
beyond our border," which is stated in his book, "The Audacity of 
Hope." 
 
Since his inauguration, President Obama traveled more than any of 
his predecessors.  Consequently, as the world is trying to go beyond 
barriers of race, ideology, and power struggle and resolve issues 
through dialogue, the global map of foreign relations is changing. 
 
Thaw in Conflict Areas 
 
First of all, the situation regarding North Korea's and Iran's 
nuclear proliferation, which deteriorated under former George W. 
Bush's hard-line policy, has changed.  The North Korean nuclear 
issue has entered into a phase of dialogue, although it is 
conditional on the beginning of U.S.-North Korea bilateral talks. 
Iran also said that it will accept international inspection of its 
uranium enrichment facilities. 
 
Another significant progress is the U.S.-Russia agreement on nuclear 
arms reduction.  Under the leadership of President Obama, the U.S. 
and Russia agreed to reduce their nuclear warheads from the current 
6,000 to 1,500-1,750.  In addition, efforts are undergoing to 
improve relations with Cuba and Venezuela, countries which the U.S. 
had classified as its enemy states until recently.  Since President 
Obama has also been emphasizing "engagement with enemies," hopes of 
a thaw in relations with these countries are being raised. 
 
"Smart Power" Diplomacy 
 
Many observers say that Obama's many achievements in just eight 
months in office are directly related to his foreign policy 
philosophy.  Above all, he is opposed to U.S. unilateralism based on 
military power.  He believes that the U.S. should gauge the opinion 
of every nation before building a global consensus and then make a 
joint response. 
 
This belief is clearly set out in his book, "The Audacity of Hope." 
In the book, he argued, "It will almost always be in our strategic 
interest to act multilaterally rather than unilaterally when we use 
force around the world."  Therefore, he prefers the "Smart Power" 
diplomacy - using a proper mixture of military power and diplomatic 
negotiations. 
 
U.S. Approval Ratings Soaring 
 
The global image of the U.S., which worsened after wars broke out in 
Afghanistan and Iraq following the September 11 terrorist attacks, 
has improved noticeably since President Obama took office.  Coupled 
with the popularity of the first U.S. African-American President, a 
change in the U.S. attitude won a favorable response especially from 
Europe. 
 
A recent Pew Research Center survey found that favorable views of 
the U.S. jumped from 31 percent in 2008 to 64 percent this year in 
Germany; 33 percent to 58 percent in Spain; and 42 percent to 75 
percent in France.  The same trend was also shown in Middle East 
countries, such Egypt and Jordan. 
 
Challenges ahead 
 
It cannot be said, however, that there are no knotty problems for 
Obama.  Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are the biggest concern. 
During his presidential campaign, Obama pledged to pull out troops 
(from the region).  However, Obama is concerned that if the U.S. 
withdraws its troops, both conflicts could degenerate into "failed 
wars."  Therefore, the question of how to wrap up the wars in 
 
SEOUL 00001620  007 OF 007 
 
 
Afghanistan and Iraq, which are still claiming many lives, is 
expected to serve as a test for Obama's foreign policy. 
 
 
STEPHENS