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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 SEOUL 001935 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; December 10, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------- 
 
 
Chosun Ilbo 
College Entrance Math Test Likely to Become Easier; 
Education Authorities See Difficult Math Tests 
as Encouraging Private Education 
 
JoongAng Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun 
Taliban Warns against ROK's Troop Deployment 
 
Dong-a Ilbo 
50 Years of U.S.-Japan Alliance Cooling; U.S. Puts off Meetings on 
Broader Ties, with Japan Halting Talks 
on U.S. Base Relocation 
 
Hankook Ilbo 
Study: Private Education Has Little Impact 
on College Entrance Exam Scores 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun 
Top MBC Executives Tender Resignations; Suspicion that Lee Myung-bak 
Administration May Be Aiming to Control MBC to "Establish 
Pro-Government Broadcasting System" 
 
 
Segye Ilbo 
College Entrance Test Score Gap Widens Between High Schools 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
-------------------- 
 
The Taliban, in a Dec.9 statement e-mailed to international media, 
warned the ROK against its plan to send troops to Afghanistan, 
saying that Seoul must prepare for "bad consequences" if the troops 
are deployed as scheduled. (All) 
 
North Korea yesterday acknowledged the domestic outbreak of the H1N1 
flu for the first time, saying that nine people were infected with 
the virus. The ROKG will send a message to the North as early as 
today to offer antiviral drugs and request information on the 
situation. (All) 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 
------------------ 
 
Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea 
Policy, seems to have met with the North's First Vice Foreign 
Minister Kang Sok-ju yesterday to discuss the North Korean nuclear 
issue. (Chosun, JoongAng, Segye, all TVs) 
 
Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip Crowley said 
in a regular briefing: "We expect that they (Ambassador Stephen 
Bosworth and the interagency team) probably did have meetings in 
Pyongyang after they arrived. ...  I would say that the primary 
meetings that we expect on this visit will occur tomorrow (Dec. 9)." 
(Chosun) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
-North Korea: Ambassador Bosworth's Visit 
------------------------------------------ 
Most ROK media speculated that Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. Special 
Representative for North Korea Policy, may have met with the North's 
First Vice Foreign Minister Kang Sok-ju yesterday to discuss the 
North Korean nuclear issue.  As support for this speculation, most 
media quoted Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip 
 
SEOUL 00001935  002 OF 005 
 
 
Crowley as saying in a Dec. 8 regular briefing: "We expect that they 
(Ambassador Stephen Bosworth and the interagency team) probably did 
have meetings in Pyongyang after they arrived. ...  I would say that 
the primary meetings that we expect on this visit will occur 
tomorrow (Dec. 9). 
 
Most media also noted the North Korean media's silence about 
Ambassador Bosworth's visit, in sharp contrast to their almost, 
real-time reporting on former President Bill Clinton's visit in 
August.  In a related development, a senior U.S. official was quoted 
as saying:  "Bosworth and his delegation went into the dark side of 
the moon."  Conservative Dong-a Ilbo, meanwhile, quoted an ROKG 
official as viewing the situation positively, saying: "The fact that 
the North Korean media has refrained from  reporting (on Ambassador 
Bosworth's visit)  can be seen as a signal that North Korea is 
taking a prudent approach to talks with the U.S." 
 
-Copenhagen Climate Change Conference 
------------------------------------- 
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized: "It is fortunate that 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a plan to 
regulate emissions of six greenhouse gases, including carbon 
dioxide, on Dec. 7.  This is because, with this announcement, the 
USG has demonstrated to the world its determination to curb 
greenhouse gas emissions, circumventing a Congress which has been a 
major hindrance to such a move.  This U.S. move must be good news 
for the Copenhagen (Climate Change) Conference because it remains 
uncertain whether the Conference can produce an agreement on 
emission reduction targets due to differences between developed and 
developing countries.  ... In order to elicit cooperation from 
developing countries, developed countries, which are mostly 
responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, should act first.  ...  We 
also urge the U.S. Congress to change its attitude." 
 
-U.S.-Japan Relations 
----------------------- 
Most newspapers carried reports saying that U.S-Japan relations are 
cooling sharply due to the discord over the relocation of the 
Futenma U.S. military base. 
 
Newspapers carried the following headlines: "'If Japan Breaches 
Bilateral Accord...' U.S. Signals Intention to Reject Bilateral 
Summit with Japan Slated for Next Week in Copenhagen" 
(right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo); and "50 Years of U.S.-Japan 
Alliance Cooling; U.S. Puts off Meetings on Broader Ties, with Japan 
Halting Talks on U.S. Base Relocation" (conservative Dong-a Ilbo) 
 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
------------------- 
 
CONFLICT OVER FUTENMA BASE COULD AFFECT OPCON TRANSFER 
(Dong-a Ilbo, December 10, 2009, Page 3; Excerpts) 
 
By Yoon Duk-min, Professor at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and 
Security 
 
If Futenma Air Base is relocated to Guam as the Hatoyama 
Administration wishes, it could have a serious impact on the safety 
of the ROK.  It means that in the event of an emergency on the 
Korean Peninsula, U.S. Marines cannot be swiftly sent to the 
Peninsula.  Given the distance between Guam and the Korean 
Peninsula, U.S. Marines in Guam will have difficulty carrying out 
the readiness force missions that Marines at Okinawa do. 
Furthermore, in light of the strategic value of the U.S. military 
base at Okinawa, which is located midway between the ROK, China, and 
Japan, downsizing or relocating the base will have a significant 
effect on the ROK-U.S. alliance and the USFK realignment.  It will 
also create an environment where we have to review or adjust the 
size and role of USFK, the transfer of wartime operational control, 
and the direction of the ROK-U.S. alliance. 
 
When it comes to the issue of moving Futenma Base out of Okinawa, 
the ROK is a concerned party.  For the sake of our safety, we should 
 
SEOUL 00001935  003 OF 005 
 
 
determine what the Japanese government is planning to do and whether 
there is any alternative to the relocation plan. 
 
 
WE WELCOME U.S.'S DECISION TO REGULATE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS 
(JoongAng Ilbo, December 9, Page 34) 
 
The U.S. consumes over 25 percent of the world's energy and the U.S. 
per capita carbon dioxide emissions are nearly five times the 
worldwide per capita figure.  However, the U.S. did not commit 
itself to meeting obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
The U.S. withdrew its support for the Kyoto Protocol, which 38 
developed countries signed to prevent global warming.  The Kyoto 
Protocol calls for developed countries to reduce their emissions by 
an average of 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. The U.S. said 
that international cooperation is meaningless without participation 
by China, which has overtaken the U.S. as the world's biggest carbon 
dioxide emitter.  China also passed the buck to the U.S.  The U.S. 
and China, as the world's biggest carbon dioxide emitters, pointed 
fingers at each other, dealing a blow to global discussions on 
greenhouse gas emissions. 
 
But with signs of global warming becoming noticeable, the 
international community felt a heightened sense of crisis.  This is 
why ahead of the Copenhagen Conference aimed at devising a new 
framework for curbing greenhouse gas emissions, countries have set 
emission reduction targets voluntarily.  The European Union (EU) has 
committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 
and Japan has announced the goal of cutting emissions 25 percent by 
¶2020.  Even though not obligated under the Kyoto Protocol, China and 
India have taken positive steps, pledging to slow the growth of 
their carbon emissions.  The ROK also promised to cut greenhouse gas 
emissions at the highest level recommended for emerging economies by 
the United Nations (UN).  However, the U.S. has proposed a mere 3 
percent reduction below 1990 levels, which falls far short of the 
targets set by other developed countries.  Moreover, a related bill 
is bogged down in the Senate.  Therefore, this is somewhat 
embarrassing for the Obama Administration, which vowed to actively 
participate in the Climate Change Convention unlike the George W. 
Bush Administration. 
 
It is fortunate that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
announced a plan to regulate emissions of six greenhouse gases, 
including carbon dioxide, on Dec. 7.  This is because, with this 
announcement, the USG has demonstrated to the world its 
determination to curb greenhouse gas emissions, circumventing a 
Congress which has been a major hindrance to such a move.  This U.S. 
move must be good news for the Copenhagen (Climate Change) 
Conference because it remains uncertain whether the Conference can 
produce an agreement on emission reduction targets due to 
differences between developed and developing countries.  As 
indicated in a joint editorial by 56 newspapers from around the 
world, including JoongAng Ilbo, in order to elicit cooperation from 
developing countries, developed countries, which are mostly 
responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, should act first. 
Sticking to only one's own interests will lead to collective 
destruction.  We also urge the U.S. Congress to change its attitude. 
 
 
 
FEATURES 
-------- 
 
JCS CHAIR RECONFIRMS US PLEDGE TO MAINTAIN CURRENT TROOP LEVELS IN 
ROK 
(Yonhap News, December 8, 2009) 
 
The United States Tuesday reaffirmed its pledge to maintain the 
current level of its troops in the ROK, dispelling media speculation 
that some U.S. forces might redeploy to Afghanistan. 
 
"We are very committed to 28,500 troops' presence in the ROK. 
That's strongly reaffirmed by President Obama, both publicly as well 
as his meetings with President Lee Myung-bak," said Adm. Michael 
 
SEOUL 00001935  004 OF 005 
 
 
Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a news conference 
here. 
 
Mullen's statement came amid controversy over remarks Obama made to 
American soldiers in Seoul last month.  "The story of your service 
goes beyond this peninsula," Obama said.  "Others among you served 
in Afghanistan. Others among you will deploy yet again." 
 
Mullen himself said in October that discussions are underway about 
rotating U.S. troops in the ROK. 
 
ROK officials have said the remarks by Obama and Mullen should not 
be taken as a (hint at a) possible troop reduction in Korea, but 
rather a routine rotation of troops without reducing the number. 
They added they have never discussed a troop reduction with the 
U.S. 
 
Mullen, however, said the Obama Administration will follow up on the 
strategic flexibility measures drawn up by the Bush Administration 
for rapid deployment of U.S. troops abroad to conflict regions. 
 
"The idea of strategic flexibility is one we are addressing with the 
ROK leadership," he said.  "We think it is very important, part of a 
strategic concept for security both for the region and globally." 
 
Faced with tough resistance from Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, 
Obama last week announced plans to send 30,000 more troops to the 
war-ravaged central Asian state early next year to bring the number 
of U.S. troops there to more than 100,000. 
 
The ROK has said it will send a 140-strong Provincial Reconstruction 
Team to Afghanistan next year, accompanied by about 320 troops for 
their protection. 
 
More than 30,000 multinational forces are already operating in 
Afghanistan in support of the U.S. effort against Al Qaida and 
Taliban insurgents.  NATO says it will soon send another 7,000 
troops. 
 
The ROK withdrew more than 200 military medics and engineers from 
Afghanistan in 2007 after 23 ROK Christian missionaries were held 
captive.  Two of them were killed and the rest released after the 
Seoul government pledged to withdraw the troops by the end of that 
year. 
 
ROK Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan recently said that increased aid 
to Afghanistan by the ROK is linked to the stable deployment of 
28,500 U.S. troops in the Korean Peninsula, a legacy of the 1950-53 
Korean War. 
 
 
(WASHINGTON) COLLECTING OPINIONS FROM U.S. CAR INDUSTRY REGARDING 
KORUS FTA 
(Maeil Business Newspaper, December 10, 2009, Page 6) 
 
By Reporters Jung Wook and Lee Chung-woo 
 
Assistant USTR Wendy Cutler 
(U.S.) Willing to Talk Anytime If ROK Requests Additional 
Discussions 
 
"The U.S. is ready to listen anytime to ROK suggestions regarding 
the KORUS FTA." 
 
Assistant USTR Wendy Cutler, who was in charge of FTA negotiations 
with the ROK, has said that if the ROK makes additional demands 
regarding the KORUS FTA, (the U.S.) is ready to discuss them at any 
time.   This remark was made during a Dec. 8 interview in Seoul with 
this paper's Economic Affairs Editor Yoon Kyung-ho, apparently out 
of consideration of the deteriorating ROK public opinion following 
last month's ROK-U.S. summit regarding additional discussions on 
automobiles.  Seemingly conscious of controversies in the ROK 
regarding possible "renegotiations" (on the automobile sector), 
Assistant USTR Cutler said that (the U.S.) has "never once used the 
 
SEOUL 00001935  005 OF 005 
 
 
word, renegotiation," adding: "The U.S has intended to "re-engage in 
dialogue on pending issues raised." 
 
Regarding additional U.S. demands on the automobile issue, she 
stated that (Washington) has recently listened to public opinions 
through the Federal Register, adding: "(We) have received about 300 
opinions from various sectors and are closely reviewing  them." 
 
Assistant USTR Cutler said that the U.S. Congress has many bills to 
address, adding that the (USTR) was (working with members) of 
Congress on issues so that (they could) gain Congressional approval 
in the future ratification process.  This means that under the 
current circumstances, conditions are not ripe for discussing the 
ROK-U.S. FTA in the U.S. Congress, and therefore, it seems like it 
will take some time until ratification of the trade pact.  Regarding 
her meetings with Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon and Chief FTA 
Negotiator Lee Hye-min, she only noted, "I briefed them on the U.S. 
situation following the summit and proposed leading dialogue in a 
constructive manner, if it resumes in the future." 
However, mindful of concerns expressed by the ROK, Assistant USTR 
Cutler said that the number of (U.S.) autos exported (to the ROK) 
should be determined by considering the differences in size between 
ROK and U.S. markets.  This indicates that she is not making an 
issue of the number of U.S. cars imported by the ROK.  Cutler added 
that the U.S.'s position is that (the ROK) should take steps to 
ensure U.S. companies from important industries compete fairly. 
 
Assistant USTR Cutler said that not only U.S. industries but also 
the USTR is reviewing what impact the ROK-EU FTA will have when it 
takes effect early next year. 
 
 
STEPHENS