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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 SEOUL 000135 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; JANUARY 29, 2010 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
-------------- 
 
Chosun Ilbo 
President Lee Calls for "Global Financial Safety Net" 
against Risky Capital Flows 
 
JoongAng Ilbo 
Universities Complain of ROKG's Push 
for Admissions Officer System 
 
Dong-a Ilbo 
Japanese Reporter Allowed to Enter ROK after 36 Years; 
He was Acquitted by Seoul Court of Involvement 
in a 1974 Spy Case in a Re-trial 36 Years after Conviction 
 
Hankook Ilbo 
ROK Military Cancels Scheduled Artillery Drills near Northern Limit 
Line, with N. Korea Firing More Shells 
into Yellow Sea for Second Day 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun 
16 of 29 Lawmakers on National Assembly's Land and Maritime Affairs 
Committee "Oppose Sejong City Revision Bill" 
 
Seoul Shinmun, Segye Ilbo, All TVs 
President Obama: "N. Korea Now Faces Increased Isolation 
and Stronger Sanctions" 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt 
Campbell, in a Jan. 27 meeting with ROK correspondents in 
Washington, said that he trusts President Lee's leadership. (Chosun, 
JoongAng, Dong-a) This remark may be intended to dispel the 
controversy he created last year by saying that he was not aware of 
the president's "grand bargain" proposal to resolve the North Korean 
nuclear issue. (Chosun) 
 
Assistant Secretary Campbell also said that Washington has no plans 
at the moment to hold a second U.S.-North Korea dialogue. 
(JoongAng) 
 
According to ROKG sources, a key U.S. Defense official recently met 
with Blue House and ROKG officials and lawmakers to collect their 
opinions on the 2012 transfer of wartime operational control from 
the U.S. to the ROK. This may suggest that Washington may review the 
timing of the OPCON transfer. (Dong-a) 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 
------------------- 
 
President Barack Obama, during his first State of the Union address 
on Jan.27, called on North Korea and Iran to abandon their nuclear 
ambitions, warning of stronger sanctions if they continue to pursue 
nuclear weapons in violation of international accords. (All) 
 
President Obama also indirectly stressed the need to ratify the 
KORUS FTA, saying: "If America sits on the sidelines while other 
nations sign trade deals, we will lose the chance to create jobs on 
our shores. ... That's ...why we will strengthen our trade relations 
in Asia and with key partners like South Korea and Panama and 
Colombia." (All) 
 
According to North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency 
yesterday, North Korea detained an American on Jan. 25 for illegally 
crossing its border with China. If confirmed, it will be the second 
such incident in a month. (Chosun, Dong-a, Hankyoreh, Segye) 
 
According to the United Nations Command (UNC), on Jan. 27, North 
 
SEOUL 00000135  002 OF 005 
 
 
Korea proposed talks with the UNC to discuss the resumption of 
operations to excavate the remains of U.S. soldiers killed in the 
Korean War. (All) 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
-President Obama's State of the Union Speech 
------------------------------------------- 
All ROK media covered President Obama's State of the Union address 
on Jan. 27. 
 
Coverage highlighted the President's statements: "These diplomatic 
efforts have also strengthened our hand in dealing with those 
nations that insist on violating international agreements in pursuit 
of nuclear weapons.  That's why North Korea now faces increased 
isolation, and stronger sanctions - sanctions that are being 
vigorously enforced; " and "If America sits on the sidelines while 
other nations sign trade deals, we will lose the chance to create 
jobs on our shores. ... That's ...why we will strengthen our trade 
relations in Asia and with key partners like South Korea and Panama 
and Colombia." 
 
Most media interpreted these remarks as a warning to North Korea of 
stronger sanctions if it continues to pursue nuclear weapons, and 
his roundabout way of stressing the need to ratify the KORUS FTA. 
 
Moderate Hankook Ilbo wrote in the headline: "U.S. Reconfirms 
Intention to Reject N. Korea's Call for Peace Treaty before the 
North's Return to Six-Party Talks." 
 
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized: "President Obama's 
speech ran 71 minutes but only nine minutes were devoted to 
international affairs.  It is said that a State of the Union 
Address, in recent years, has never treated international affairs as 
lightly as this one.   ... There are many international issues that 
cannot be resolved without active U.S. efforts; It is still 
important for America to play an appropriate role in the 
international community. ... Since the launch of the Obama 
Administration, North Korea has advocated a resolution of its 
nuclear issue through dialogue, increasing the possibility of a 
breakthrough on the nuclear issue, depending on the U.S.'s attitude. 
  It is high time for a more forward-looking role from the U.S." 
 
-N. Korea 
--------- 
North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency's report yesterday 
- that an American is being held in North Korea for illegally 
crossing its border with China on Jan. 25 - captured the attention 
of the ROK media.  According to media reports, the North did not 
identify him or give any details about why he entered the North.  If 
confirmed, it will be the second such incident in a month, according 
to media reports. 
 
Most media carried reports that North Korea proposed talks with the 
United Nations Command (UNC) on Jan. 27 to discuss resuming the 
joint recovery of the remains of U.S. soldiers killed in the Korean 
War.  The proposal coincided with the North's artillery shootings 
into waters near the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea, the de 
facto maritime border between the two Koreas. 
 
Chosun Ilbo editorialized: "North Korea has been employing a 
two-track strategy toward the ROK and the U.S. since late last year 
by aggressively seeking economic cooperation and humanitarian aid on 
one hand while heightening military tension on the other. ...  The 
reason why North Korea continues to make provocations, such as the 
latest artillery fire near the NLL, is that it is caught in an 
obsolete mindset that threats and appeasement are the most effective 
way to elicit aid from the ROK and the U.S. ... Only if North Korea 
stops its nuclear development and provocations and returns to the 
Six-Party Talks and inter-Korean dialogue will the door open for 
economic aid for the North." 
 
Moderate Hankook Ilbo wrote in the headline: "'Double-faced' N. 
 
SEOUL 00000135  003 OF 005 
 
 
Korea; North Suggests Joint Recovery of Remains of Fallen U.S. 
Soldiers while Firing Artillery... an Attempt to Raise Negotiating 
Power." 
 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
------------------- 
 
OBAMA'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS FAILS TO SHOW (U.S.'S) GLOBAL 
LEADERSHIP 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, January 29, Page 31) 
 
U.S. President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address yesterday 
(Korean time) focused on domestic issues such as economic (measures) 
and job creation.  Facing public anger over the U.S.'s lingering 
economic woes, President Obama put his priority on creating jobs. 
In order to relieve the burden on struggling middle-class families, 
he promised to provide tax cuts and extend other benefits.  He said, 
"We will work within the budget to invest in what we need and 
sacrifice what we don't," pledging to increase investments in 
education and environment.  He noted, "I take my share of the blame 
for not explaining it (health care reform) more clearly to the 
American people," adding that he will not "walk away from reform." 
The controversy over the health care reform has been dividing the 
U.S. society. 
 
President Obama's speech apparently shows that he has readjusted his 
policy priorities by reflecting public opinions (which have become 
worse over the past year.)  Obama's popularity rating, which stood 
at 70 percent when he took office, dropped to 50 percent.  A 
Republican candidate won a U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts, (which 
is a traditional Democratic stronghold.) 
 
We are somewhat worried about this policy readjustment, particularly 
in international issues.  President Obama's speech ran 71 minutes 
but only nine minutes were devoted to international affairs.  It is 
said that a State of the Union Address, in recent years, has never 
treated international affairs as lightly as this one.  This may be 
understandable if the U.S.'s overseas policy is changing from 
unilateralism to multilateralism (so that international issues 
involve not only the U.S.'s effort but also other countries'.) 
There are many international issues that cannot be resolved without 
active U.S. efforts; It is still important for America to play an 
appropriate role in the international community. 
 
President Obama said, "These diplomatic efforts have also 
strengthened our hand in dealing with those nations that insist on 
violating international agreements in pursuit of nuclear weapons. 
That's why North Korea now faces increased isolation, and stronger 
sanctions - sanctions that are being vigorously enforced."  However, 
he has neither laid out any substantial proposals to resolve the 
current stalemate in the North Korean nuclear issue nor demonstrated 
his determination to do so. 
 
This attitude will be a stumbling block to improving relations 
between the U.S. and North Korea, which have remained hostile for 
more than 50 years, and to bringing stability to the Korean 
Peninsula and Northeast Asia. Since the launch of the Obama 
Administration, North Korea has advocated a resolution of its 
nuclear issue through dialogue, increasing the possibility of a 
breakthrough on the nuclear issue, depending on the U.S.'s attitude. 
  It is high time for a more forward-looking role from the U.S. 
 
 
¶N. KOREA'S ARTILLERY SHOOTINGS WILL ONLY INCREASE ISOLATION 
(Chosun Ilbo, January 29, 2010, Page 31) 
 
After firing around 100 shells toward the Northern Limit Line (NLL), 
the de-facto maritime border close to the Baeknyong and Daecheong 
islands on the West Sea, on Wednesday, North Korea fired around 10 
more rounds on Thursday at its side of the NLL near Yeongpyeong 
Island.  The North had declared a no-navigation zone around the NLL 
this week, which included the South Korean side of the maritime 
border.  Its intent was to keep South Korea from raising a fuss, 
 
SEOUL 00000135  004 OF 005 
 
 
since it had been warned in advance. 
 
The North was testing its ability to fire a barrage of rounds at a 
single target using 130 mm coastal artillery, 240 mm multiple rocket 
launch systems and 170 mm self-propelled howitzers.  The 100 or so 
rounds fired by those armaments all landed on the North Korean side 
of the NLL.  There is a strong possibility that North Korea 
deliberately avoided having the shells land on the South Korean side 
of the NLL, even though the North vehemently protests the legitimacy 
of the maritime border.  North Korea's MLRS have a range of 60 km, 
while its self-propelled howitzers have a range of 54 km.  The 
purpose of North Korea's latest provocation was to warn South Korea 
that it could attack its naval vessels and civilian ships at any 
time. 
 
Even while this was going on, North Korean officials met with UN 
Command representatives at the border truce village of Panmunjom on 
Wednesday and proposed the resumption of excavation work uncovering 
the remains of American soldiers killed in the Korean War.  In his 
New Year's address, President Lee Myung-bak vowed to start efforts 
to recover the remains of South Korean soldiers in the North but 
North Korea responded to the U.S. instead. 
 
North Korea has been employing a two-track strategy toward the ROK 
and the U.S. since late last year by aggressively seeking economic 
cooperation and humanitarian aid on one hand while heightening 
military tension on the other.  The North is gearing up to attract 
foreign capital and request economic assistance from the South 
Korean government and businesses.  But the reason why North Korea 
continues to make provocations, such as the latest artillery fire 
near the Northern Limit Line, is that it is caught in an obsolete 
mindset that threats and appeasement are the most effective way to 
elicit aid from the ROK and the U.S.  President Barack Obama, in his 
state of the Union address, said that "North Korea now faces 
increased isolation and stronger sanctions (due to its nuclear 
ambitions)."  Only if North Korea stops its nuclear development and 
provocations and returns to the Six-Party Talks and inter-Korean 
dialogue will the door open for economic aid for the North."  But it 
is refusing to see the road ahead and remains focused on the past. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
FEATURES 
--------- 
 
ASSISTANT SECRETARY CAMPBELL "TRUSTS PRESIDENT LEE'S LEADERSHIP" 
(Chosun Ilbo, January 29, 2010, Page 4) 
 
By Washington Correspondent Lee Ha-won 
 
The remark may be intended to dispel the controversy over President 
Lee's "grand bargain" proposal. 
 
"I have watched many summits, but no summit was as productive as the 
summit between U.S. President Barack Obama and ROK President Lee 
Myung-bak.  From President Lee, I felt a positive and trustworthy 
leadership, which I did not feel from other foreign leaders," said 
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs 
Kurt Campbell. 
 
Ahead of his trip to the ROK on February 2, Assistant Secretary 
Campbell publicly praised President Lee's leadership on January 27. 
On that day, he asked for a meeting with Korean correspondents at 
the Foreign Press Center in Washington D.C. and paid tribute to 
President Lee in his opening remarks.  He noted, "President Lee is 
pushing for an initiative of "Global Korea" very logically.  The 
idea of "Global Korea" is to expand the ROK's influence and interest 
on the Northeast Asian stage." 
 
These remarks seem intended to dispel the controversy that Assistant 
Secretary Campbell created last September by saying that he was not 
familiar with President Lee's "grand bargain" proposal on the North 
 
SEOUL 00000135  005 OF 005 
 
 
Korean nuclear issue.  At that time, after Assistant Secretary 
Campbell made such a remark, President Lee stated, "So what if Mr. 
So-and-so says he is not aware of (the grand bargain.)" 
 
 
STEPHENS