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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 SEOUL 001980 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; December 21, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------- 
 
 
Chosun Ilbo 
Senior Presidential Secretary for Education Lee Joo-ho Vows to Ban 
Private Cram Schools from Offering Late-Night Classes 
 
JoongAng Ilbo, Segye Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun, All TVs 
"Worst National Assembly Ever;" Budget Bill Passage 
Still Up in the Air 
 
Dong-a Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo 
Education Ministry Seeks to Hinder Foreign Language High School 
Applicants Who Voluntarily Admit to Studying at Private Education 
Institutes; Critics Say Voluntary Reporting Makes 
It Too Easy to Sidestep Latest Rules 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun 
Main Opposition Democratic Party Chairman Chung Sye-kyun Found to Be 
Present when Former Prime Minister Han Met Local Businessman Who 
Allegedly Bribed Han 
for Business Favors 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
According to multiple ROKG sources, the two Koreas held two rounds 
of s-e-c-r-e-t meetings last month to discuss a possible summit, but 
failed to reach agreement due to differences over food aid, the 
North's nuclear issue, and the problem of ROK citizens believed to 
be held in the North. (Chosun, Dong-a, Hankyoreh, Segye) 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 
----------------- 
 
Dennis Blair, Director of National Intelligence, in a Dec. 18 
contribution to The Washington Post, said that the North Korean arms 
shipment seized in Thailand last week was destined for the Middle 
East. Mr. Blair's reference marked the first public comment by the 
U.S. administration on the destination of the arms. (Chosun, Dong-a, 
Segye) 
 
North Korea, in a Dec. 19 commentary in the Rodong Shinmun, the 
North's major newspaper published by the Workers' Party, said that 
the ROK is not entitled to participate in negotiations on its 
nuclear program because the ROK has systematically augmented nuclear 
threats from the U.S. (JoongAng) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
-N. Korea 
--------- 
Most ROK media today carried inside-page reports quoting Dennis 
Blair, Director of National Intelligence, as writing in The 
Washington Post on Dec. 18 that the North Korean arms shipment 
seized in Thailand last week was destined for the Middle East.  He 
was further quoted: "Teamwork among different agencies in the U.S. 
and partners abroad just last week led to the interdiction of a 
Middle East-bound cargo of North Korean weapons."  The media noted 
that Blair's reference marked the first public comment by the U.S. 
administration on the destination of the arms and the first official 
confirmation on the U.S. role in the case. 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo observed: "Blair did not specify which 
country the North Korean weapons were bound for.  His comment has 
sparked speculation that the North Korean weapons were headed to 
Iran." 
 
SEOUL 00001980  002 OF 005 
 
 
 
Copenhagen Climate Change Conference 
Yesterday's conclusion of the 15th U.N. Climate Change Conference in 
Copenhagen captured the attention of the ROK media.  Most media 
reported that the historic conference ended with only a nonbinding 
"Copenhagen Accord," which simply calls for greenhouse gases and 
other emissions by all nations to be reduced enough to prevent 
average global temperatures from rising more than two degrees 
Celsius, without setting specific emissions guidelines for achieving 
that goal. 
 
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized: "The leaders of the 
planet were not brave. ... They just dithered, preventing Copenhagen 
turning into 'Hopenhagen.'  ... The 'Copenhagen Accord' is short on 
substance and is merely a face-saving measure for political leaders. 
... Now the homework has been carried over to next year's climate 
conference in Mexico City. ... Only when all of us take concerted 
action under the 'Me First' spirit can we save this planet and 
humanity." 
 
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized: "The U.S. and China 
are largely to blame for this disappointing result, given that they 
account for more than 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions 
worldwide.  China, which has overtaken the U.S. as the world's 
biggest CO2 emitter, strongly rejected being included in the list of 
countries subject to mandatory emissions-reduction targets while 
stressing the responsibility of advanced nations. ...  The U.S., for 
its part, could not show leadership to persuade developing countries 
by taking such a lackadaisical attitude as proposing an 
emissions-reduction target much lower than those of the EU and 
Japan." 
 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
------------------- 
 
"PREEMPTIVE MEASURES NEEDED IN ANTICIPATION OF TOUGHER CARBON 
REDUCTION RULES" 
(Chosun Ilbo, December 21, Page  39) 
 
"It is highly likely that a global warming pact will be reached 
before the next climate summit, which will take place in Mexico City 
next year.  The current Kyoto Protocol is set to expire in 2012, and 
as long as the world does not give up battling global warming, the 
international community has little choice but to come up with a 
legally-binding treaty. ... If there is no choice but to reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions, then it is best to get started as soon as 
possible.  Doing so will allow Korean businesses to get a head start 
in developing the technologies and building the experience needed to 
become globally competitive.  In order to make this happen, the ROKG 
must establish a system that will allow businesses to become 'early 
movers' and take voluntary steps to cut their emissions." 
 
MEDIATING THE INTERESTS OF DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING NATIONS FOR 
CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, December 21, Page 31) 
 
The worst was avoided, but the results are still not enough to give 
the international community hope.  The 2009 United Nations (UN) 
Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen had set out to search for 
ways to stop global warming and concluded on Dec. 19 with the 
Copenhagen Accord.  The climate change conference failed to bring 
about an agreement that binds developed countries to greenhouse gas 
emission targets.  This is why, despite what the U.S., China and UN 
General Secretary Ban Ki-moon are working hard to call a "half 
victory," voices of disappointment and criticism are being heard 
throughout the world. 
 
The results from the Copenhagen talks are significant as the Kyoto 
Protocol, which made greenhouse gas reductions mandatory for 
developed nations, comes to an end in 2012.  If steps towards a new 
agreement to extend the Kyoto Protocol are not made, the 
international community's commitment to reduce greenhouse gases will 
virtually collapse by 2013.   As a result, the attention of the 
 
SEOUL 00001980  003 OF 005 
 
 
world has been focused on Copenhagen and the leaders of 119 nations 
in attendance. 
 
The U.S. and China are largely to blame for this disappointing 
result, given that they account for more than 40 percent of 
greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.  China, which has overtaken the 
U.S. as the world's biggest CO2 emitter, strongly rejected being 
included in the list of countries subject to mandatory 
emissions-reduction targets while stressing the responsibility of 
advanced nations.  It makes sense that between developed and 
developing nations, it is developed nations that must bear greater 
responsibility for global warming, but it is true that preventing 
global warming is impossible without a change in China's posture. 
The U.S., for its part, could not show leadership to persuade 
developing countries by taking such a lackadaisical attitude as 
proposing an emissions-reduction target much lower than those of the 
EU and Japan. 
 
There are what could be considered some positive results in the 
Copenhagen Accord, including the proposal to keep the rise in global 
temperatures to within two degrees since the Industrial Revolution 
and the creation of a 100 billion dollar fund to assist poor 
countries dealing with serious crises due to climate change. 
However, major nations, including the U.S. and China, must not stop 
here and should continue to work until the Mexico conference set for 
next November to reach an agreement with binding force and concrete 
reduction targets.  The ROK, too, which serves as the host for the 
next G-20 summit next year, must actively contribute to creating a 
new climate change agreement by mediating the interests of developed 
and developing nations. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
 
FEATURES 
--------- 
 
U.S. PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAM IN AFGHANISTAN PARTICIPATES IN 
MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER EXERCISE 
(Chosun Ilbo, December 21, Page 6) 
 
By Correspondent Park Jong-se 
 
A car sits riddled by bullets, its windshield shattered.  Afghan 
merchants repair a bicycle and sell carpets nearby in an indifferent 
manner.  On a bazaar street, the wash is hung out to dry between 
shops with signboards written in the local dari language. 
 
Dozens of U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) personnel, 
escorted by U.S. soldiers, enter the bazaar along with village 
leaders. A deafening explosion cuts through the air.  The bomb:  an 
improvised explosive device (IED) made by the Taliban, the Islamic 
fundamentalists in Afghanistan. 
 
The U.S. soldiers immediately drop to the ground, ready to shoot. 
PRT personnel also fall to the ground.  A few more IEDs explode. 
The smell of gunpowder fills the air and thick smoke blankets the 
surrounding area. 
 
"To the left! To the left!"  U.S. soldiers had PRT members and 
village leaders take cover behind a (nearby) shop. 
 
An AK-47 rifle shot from the Taliban slices through the air.  It is 
too dangerous to advance along the bazaar street.  "Push back!" 
 
This is the description of a training exercise that reenacts the 
Taliban's sudden attacks that plague Afghanistan every day.  On 
December 16, fifty-one PRT personnel from U.S. Departments of 
Agriculture and State, who will be dispatched to Afghanistan in a 
month, participated in this intensive training exercise at 
Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Indiana. 
 
 
SEOUL 00001980  004 OF 005 
 
 
Afghan-Americans wearing wool hats and traditional Islamic clothes 
played the role of Afghans.  However, participants didn't have the 
slightest idea of what would happen and when. 
 
On the roof of a nearby two-story building, instructors filmed and 
closely observed every move of the PRT personnel.  They checked to 
make sure the participants accurately followed the directions of 
U.S. soldiers, did not panic amid the explosions, and were putting 
their hands on the shoulders of those in front of them when moving. 
 
 
John Rothenberg from the U.S. Agency for International Development 
said that just the sound of a bomb blast set his nerves on edge. 
Lieutenant Jessica Halladay said that this exercise is aimed at 
making sure that PRT personnel learn how to act along with soldiers 
by not panicking in case of an emergency.  Captain Trey Wheeler, who 
returned from Afghanistan a month ago, said with surprise that the 
exercise is conducted under conditions (similar) to those in 
Afghanistan. 
 
Immediately after PRT members headed to a venue for negotiation, 
which was their final destination, the bomb went off. And even 
though they (did eventually) manage to arrive at the negotiating 
venue, PRT personnel still had to argue with stubborn tribal 
representatives about their proposal to  provide irrigation 
facilities (within the area).  Negotiations stalled when tribal 
representatives fell into dispute among themselves, with each tribal 
leader saying that the other leaders would benefit more than they 
would from the deal.  Around eleven o'clock, local representatives 
put an abrupt end to the negotiations and began to cite the Koran 
and pray.  These all described real circumstances they might 
encounter in Afghanistan. 
 
When the role-playing situation ended, experts, who closely observed 
the exercise, gave advice:  "You should make your sentences short so 
that they are clearly interpreted."  "It is common for Afghan 
farmers to be late to the negotiating venue by one or two hours." 
"You should coordinate ideas through a preliminary meeting and then 
hold a comprehensive meeting." 
 
An expert on Afghanistan suddenly (interrupted the debriefing) to 
quiz a PRT member, "What is the name of the (tribal) leader you just 
dealt with?"  "Sajai... Mahmed..."  The PRT member mumbled, (unable 
to recall the name). 
 
When they exited the building after completing the tortuous 
negotiations, another IED detonated. 
 
This training program started this past July around the time U.S. 
President Barack Obama changed the nature of the war in Afghanistan 
from a "hard-power" war reliant on U.S. Marine Corps to a 
"soft-power" war based on Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs). 
Accordingly, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan 
Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 
Admiral Michael Mullen, and Commander of the U.S. Central Command 
David Petraeus agreed to establish a special program designed to 
train civilian experts.  This was because, with the number of 
civilian staff increasing, there was a desperate need for 
coordination between them and U.S. troops.  Currently U.S. civilian 
staff (in Afghanistan only number) about 320 people, but the number 
(is expected to) increase to an estimated 1,000 in January. 
 
Training programs at the MUTC are based on six different scenarios, 
including those reenacting general negotiations, terror bombings and 
(other common situations in Afghanistan), ranging from the very 
basic to the very complex.  Ronal Melvin, 63, with the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, who once worked as a PRT member in Iraq, 
said, "This kind of training is helpful since it teaches you how 
soldiers  communicate and what really happens on the ground." 
 
 
 "I SPOKE WITH ROK DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIALS OVER THE PHONE THIS 
MORNING ... THE ROK TEAM BEING DISPATCHED TO AFGHANISTAN WILL 
RECEIVE TRAINING IN JANUARY" 
 
SEOUL 00001980  005 OF 005 
 
 
(Chosun Ilbo, December 21, 2009, Page 6) 
By Correspondent Park Jong-se from MUTC 
 
James McKellar, President of McKellar, a private company planning a 
civilian-military-government joint training program, said, "Training 
centers are aimed at ensuring that participants are knowledgeable 
about the organization that they belong to and its roles, and that 
they work effectively with local residents, local governments, and 
multinational forces."  Below are excerpts from an interview with 
him. 
 
¶Q. Have the trainings (your company has performed up until now) been 
effective? 
¶A. "Of course, they have.  A number of the participants currently 
being trained have received previous training here (in Muscatatuck) 
They commented that the training was very helpful for them." 
 
¶Q.  What kind of things do civilian staff have to deal with on the 
ground? 
¶A. "In short, they must (be able to) deal with many things 
simultaneously in a very complicated situation." 
 
¶Q. Can this program be applied to every nation that sends a PRT to 
Afghanistan? 
¶A. "Yes.  A civilian-military joint training program is certainly 
necessary., and we have had discussions with the ROK about this. 
Next year, the ROK will send a roughly 500-member-strong joint PRT 
(to Afghanistan) that will include civilians and others from the 
government and the military and police forces.  I talked with ROK 
Defense Ministry officials over the phone this morning (December 
16), and (confirmed that) some of the PRT members being deployed to 
Afghanistan in January at the earliest will train here (in 
Muscatatuck)." 
 
¶Q. What business does McKellar usually engage in? 
¶A. "We only have ten employees.  So far, we have engaged in training 
civil servants and military staff.  In the past, the military did 
not understand the civilian staff, and the civilian staff did not 
understand the military." 
 
 
STEPHENS