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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SEOUL 001987 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; December 22, 2009 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------- 
 
Chosun Ilbo 
ROKG to Stop Assisting "Zombie" Companies Kept Alive 
by Government and Bank Handouts 
 
JoongAng Ilbo, All TVs 
¶N. Korea Declares Yellow Sea Border "Firing Zone" 
 
Dong-a Ilbo 
Korea Invited to NATO Meeting on Afghanistan Next Year 
 
Hankook Ilbo 
Number of "Working Homeless" Reaches 100,000 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun 
Six in 10 Cancer Patients Survive 
for More Than Five Years after Diagnosis 
 
Segye Ilbo 
President Lee Hopes to Advance ROK's Target to Secure Its Own 
Nuclear Power Technologies by a Few Years 
 
Seoul Shinmun 
Rival Parties Agree to Convene 
National Assembly Session Dec. 29 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
The North Korean naval command said yesterday that it would 
designate the waters near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) - the de 
facto inter-Korean sea border in the Yellow Sea drawn by the 
U.S.-led United Nations Command at the end of the Korean War in 1953 
- as a "peacetime naval firing zone" for coastal and island 
artillery units, in response to the ROK's "reckless military 
provocations." (All) 
 
An ROKG official responded by saying: "The announcement is only the 
latest attempt by the North to raise tensions in the Yellow Sea and 
to nullify the NLL." (JoongAng) 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 
------------------ 
 
According to Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, there is a possibility that 
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il may visit China in January or early 
February to discuss the North's nuclear and succession issues. 
(Dong-a, Segye) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
-N. Korea 
--------- 
All ROK media covered North Korea's designation yesterday of a 
"peacetime firing zone" along the disputed inter-Korean sea border 
in the Yellow Sea.  The North Korean naval command was quoted: "To 
counter the reckless and provocative military maneuvers by the 
warmongers in the South Korean military, our Navy declares the 
waters near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the Yellow Sea 'a 
peacetime naval firing zone' for coastal and island artillery units. 
 All fishing boats and warships in that zone should take security 
measures to protect themselves." 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo quoted an ROK security official as saying: 
"The North Korean military is apparently seeking ways to get revenge 
for its crushing defeat in a skirmish in the Yellow Sea last month. 
 
SEOUL 00001987  002 OF 002 
 
 
This appears to be a psychological pressure tactic.  (The North), 
however, will find that a physical provocation will be more 
difficult (to carry out)."  Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo cited an 
ROKG official as saying: "The announcement is only the latest 
attempt by the North to raise tensions in the Yellow Sea and to 
nullify the NLL." Moderate Hankook Ilbo headlined its article: 
"North's Designation Appears to be Strategic Rhetoric, Rather Than 
Preparation for Provocation." 
 
 
STEPHENS