VZCZCXRO4849
OO RUEHGH
DE RUEHUL #0089/01 0220800
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 220800Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6758
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 9620
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC//DDI/OEA//
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//FPA//
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DB-Z//
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0711
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7180
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 7244
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 1700
RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 5539
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 4461
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 7673
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1936
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0020
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2312
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2925

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 SEOUL 000089 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; JANUARY 22, 2010 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------- 
 
Chosun Ilbo 
Ruling GNP's Pro-Park Geun-hye Faction Turns "Positive" 
on Holding National Convention at Early Date 
 
JoongAng Ilbo 
Judges Come Under Fire for Leftist Influence 
 
Dong-a Ilbo 
Fire Insurance to Become Mandatory for Public Places 
Like Restaurants and Theaters 
 
Hankook Ilbo, Segye Ilbo, All TVs 
Conservatives Going Overboard against Controversial Court Rulings; 
Chief Justice's Car Pelted with Eggs 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun 
Investigations Catering to Political Power... 
Prosecution Is the Problem 
 
Seoul Shinmun 
Political Parties Politicize Judiciary Reform 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
The two Koreas agreed yesterday to hold another working-level 
discussion on the North's Kaesong Industrial Complex on Feb. 1, but 
they failed to settle on the agenda as the North renewed its 
previous demand for higher wages for its Kaesong workers. (All) 
 
The ROKG also plans to accept Pyongyang's proposal to hold talks on 
resuming ROK tours to the North's Mt. Kumgang and ancient city of 
Kaesong. (Dong-a, Hankook, Seoul) 
 
According to the Foreign Ministry, Seoul will send some 200 troops 
to Haiti as part of UN peacekeeping operations in the Caribbean 
country devastated by recent earthquakes. (All) 
 
U.S. Ambassador to the ROK Kathleen Stephens is active in conducting 
"blog diplomacy." She is running her own Web blog called "Shim 
Eun-kyong's Life in Korea" at "Cafe USA," an Internet community for 
the U.S. Embassy in Seoul on the portal site Daum. (JoongAng) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
Secretary Clinton's Speech on Internet Freedom 
State-run Yonhap News Agency carried a report that Secretary of 
State Hillary Clinton, in a Jan. 21 speech, singled out North Korea 
as an example of a country that practices Internet censorship.  She 
was quoted: "In North Korea, for example, the government has tried 
to completely isolate its citizens from outside opinions.  This 
lopsided access to information increases both the likelihood of 
conflict and the probability that small disagreements could 
escalate." 
 
-OPCON Transfer 
--------------- 
Defense Minister Kim Tae-young's Jan. 20 remark, "The military must 
prepare for the worst situation, which would be to have OPCON 
(wartime operation control) returned to us (from the U.S.) in 2012," 
continues to elicit comments from newspapers. 
 
Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized: "Experts have wondered if 
there would be no problem with the ROK taking over OPCON from the 
U.S. in 2012 as scheduled, in a situation where the North's 
possession  of nuclear weapons has become a reality and Pyongyang 
has declared the year 2012 as the target year for building a 'great, 
 
SEOUL 00000089  002 OF 005 
 
 
prosperous and powerful country.'  Furthermore, the ROKG's plan to 
enhance its capability to collect information on North Korea is 
making little headway due to financial constraints .... This is why 
former defense ministers and generals took to the streets calling 
for the delay of the OPCON transfer until the North's nuclear 
problem is resolved." 
 
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo carried an editorial entitled 
"Readjusting OPCON Transfer Date Is Inevitable." It said: "The year 
2012 is a very critical year.  The ROK holds both general and 
presidential elections in the year, and North Korea has vowed to 
build a 'great and prosperous country' by that year, when its late 
leader Kim Il-sung marks his centennial birthday.  What turbulent 
situation will unfold on the Korean Peninsula is anybody's guess. 
In this situation, disbanding the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, 
the last resort for our security, is a very dangerous, military 
adventure." 
 
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo filed a similar editorial calling for an 
earnest review with the USG of the planned transfer. 
 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
------------------- 
 
IT IS NOT TIME TO TALK ABOUT NUCLEAR SOVEREIGNTY 
(JoongAng Ilbo, January 22, 2010, Page 35; Excerpts) 
 
By Senior International News Columnist Kim Young-hie 
 
Some people argue that the ROK should have nuclear fuel reprocessing 
facilities.  However, this argument has nothing to gain, everything 
to lose.  If the ROK says that it wants to have a nuclear fuel 
reprocessing facility, the U.S. would suspect that the ROK's true 
intention may be to develop nuclear weapons.  This is due to the 
ROK's track record regarding nuclear programs since the 1970s. 
Under the U.S.-ROK peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement, if (the 
ROK) wants to change the shape and substance of used fuel from a 
nuclear reactor built with the U.S. technology - specifically 
speaking, reprocess used fuel - it should seek the consent of the 
U.S.  However, since the U.S. does not trust the ROK, and the global 
trend after 1974 is to curb the proliferation of the uranium 
enrichment and reprocessing technology, an agreement to allow the 
ROK to reprocess nuclear fuel would not be approved in the U.S. 
Congress. 
 
The North Korean nuclear issue also serves as a serious obstacle. 
The nations involved in the Six-Party Talks, including the ROK, 
pressure the North to abandon its nuclear programs.  The key of the 
September 19, 2005 Joint Statement is to halt North Korea's 
reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.  If Seoul has a nuclear 
reprocessing facility while calling on Pyongyang to give up its 
nuclear ambitions, the U.S. will oppose it.  It is also economically 
ridiculous for the ROK to have a nuclear reprocessing facility.  It 
costs over 10 billion dollars to build one facility, but using 
imported uranium only requires hundreds of millions of dollars. 
This is why Japan relies on imported uranium although it has its 
nuclear reprocessing facility.  It is just wishful thinking that the 
U.S. would agree to pyroprocessing, a technology which does not 
separate pure plutonium suitable for direct use in nuclear weapons. 
U.S. mainstream scientists caution that pyroprocessing is not 
perfectly proliferation-resistant. 
 
The argument in favor of the ROK's nuclear sovereignty is just 
hollow populism, which does not serve the national interest.  If the 
ROK has a nuclear reprocessing facility, it may satisfy its national 
pride.  However, it has so much to lose economically and 
diplomatically.  The argument for the ROK's nuclear sovereignty may 
come out of patriotism but it will end up being unpatriotic.  What 
is most desirable now is to extend the U.S.-ROK peaceful nuclear 
cooperation agreement at the current level without putting it up for 
public debate.  It would not be late to gain nuclear sovereignty 
after the North Korean nuclear issue is resolved and having such 
nuclear sovereignty becomes economically beneficial. 
 
SEOUL 00000089  003 OF 005 
 
 
 
 
READJUSTING OPCON TRANSFER DATE IS INEVITABLE 
(JoongAng Ilbo, January 22, 2010, Page 34; Excerpts) 
 
The agreement on the OPCON transfer was reached because the Roh 
Moo-hyun Administration's fledgling sense of independence (from the 
U.S.) matched up with the U.S.'s strategy to strengthen the mobility 
of U.S. forces overseas.  At that time, the Ministry of National 
Defense explained that if state-of-the-art weapons are introduced 
according to the mid-term national defense plan into which 151 
trillion won will be injected by 2011, it will be possible to boost 
the ROK's deterrence against North Korea.  The ministry also 
stressed that the ROK will continue to be under the U.S.'s nuclear 
umbrella and be provided with U.S. reinforcements in the event of an 
emergency. 
 
However, we are very concerned that those premises are being shaken. 
 Above all, (we must face) the budgetary issue.  In order to secure 
151 trillion won, the ROKG should increase its national defense 
budget by over 9 percent every year.  However, the defense budget's 
growth rate, which recorded 8.7 percent in 2006 and 8.8 percent in 
2007, plummeted to 3.6 percent this year.  The defense ministry 
predicts that there will be an estimated shortfall of 13.5 trillion 
won by 2012. 
 
In addition, the year 2012 is a very critical year.  The ROK holds 
both general and presidential elections in the year, and North Korea 
has vowed to build a 'great and prosperous country' by that year, 
when its late leader Kim Il-sung marks his centennial birthday. 
What turbulent situation will unfold on the Korean Peninsula is 
anybody's guess.  In this situation, disbanding the ROK-U.S. 
Combined Forces Command, the last resort for our security, is a very 
dangerous, military adventure. 
 
 
WHY IS 2012 'THE WORST TIME' FOR TROOP CONTROL HANDOVER? 
(Chosun Ilbo, January 22, 2010, Page 31) 
 
Defense Minister Kim Tae-young on Wednesday said 2012 is "the worst 
time" for full operational control of Korean troops to be handed 
over to Seoul from Washington.  "The president and military are both 
concerned about this," he added. 
 
South Korea and the U.S. agreed back in 2007 to transfer wartime 
operational control to the South Korean military in April 2012, 
dismantling the Combined Forces Command.  Military experts and 
veteran military officers registered their objections to the move on 
several occasions, but this is the first time the minister in charge 
has commented publicly on the problems regarding the transfer. 
 
The two sides concluded after joint combat training exercises last 
August that the South's military is fully capable of defending 
itself against North Korean aggression.  U.S. Defense Secretary 
Robert Gates said he was "optimistic" about the process.  But 
experts have wondered if there would be no problem with the ROK 
taking over OPCON from the U.S. in 2012 as scheduled, in a situation 
where the North's possession of nuclear weapons has become a reality 
and Pyongyang has declared the year 2012 as the target year for 
building a "great, prosperous and powerful country."  Furthermore, 
the ROKG's plan to enhance its capability to collect information on 
North Korea is making little headway due to financial constraint, 
and the absence of an immediate U.S.-led counterattack as a 
deterrent could embolden the North. 
This is why former defense ministers and generals took to the 
streets calling for the delay of the OPCON transfer until the 
North's nuclear problem is resolved. 
 
The incumbent defense minister's comments add weight to these calls. 
 If Kim's comments were based on a comprehensive review of the 
situation, then the government must clearly explain to the public 
why 2012 is the worst time for the transfer and what problems have 
emerged so far. 
 
 
SEOUL 00000089  004 OF 005 
 
 
The agreement over the transfer of wartime operational control was 
made when the U.S. government was mapping out ways to change the 
structure of its troops deployed overseas, and the Roh Moo-hyun 
Administration was bent on reducing South Korea's military 
dependence on the U.S.  There is no reason for Washington to 
postpone the transfer simply to accommodate the needs of the South 
Korean government.  Seoul needs to look closely at a proper time and 
ways to raise the issue for renegotiation.  But if Kim's comments 
were simply his way of expressing personal concerns and not based on 
a thorough assessment of the situation, then it was inappropriate to 
discuss the problem in this way. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
DELAYING 2012 OPCON TRANSFER IS THE WAY TO REESTABLISH SECURITY 
(Dong-a Ilbo, January 22, 2010, Page 31; Excepts) 
 
(The defense minister's remarks) confirmed that the president and 
the defense minister are making efforts to readjust the timing of 
the planned OPCON transfer.  The OPCON, if all goes as planned, will 
be transferred to us in two years and three months.  Time is running 
short.  The ROKG should promptly undertake an earnest review with 
the USG of the planned transfer. 
 
The Defense Ministry has said that there will not be a security 
vacuum after the ROK's takeover of OPCON as scheduled, because the 
U.S. will provide major capabilities until the ROK military is fully 
prepared.  However, the problem lies in (the ROK's) readiness 
against the North's weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear and 
biochemical weapons and long-range missiles.  In order to thwart WMD 
attacks (from the North,) the ROK should have strategic 
information-collecting capabilities, such as satellites and airborne 
warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft.  However, it would be 
difficult for the ROK to obtain such capabilities, on which the ROK 
is dependent on the U.S. military, before 2012. 
 
President Lee Myung-bak has expressed several times his desire to 
readjust the timing of the OPCON transfer since he took office in 
2008, as well as during his election campaign.  However, it is no 
exaggeration to say that there has been no substantial review (of 
the timing of the transfer.) 
 
North Korea has set the year 2012 as the target year for building a 
"great and prosperous country."  It is crystal clear that the North 
is furthering efforts to develop nuclear weapons and long-range 
missiles.  The ROKG should exert active diplomatic and military 
efforts in order to get the U.S. to agree to review the timing of 
the OPCON transfer. 
 
 
FEATURES 
-------- 
 
U.S. AMBASSADOR STEPHENS ACTIVE IN CONDUCTING "BLOG DIPLOMACY" 
(JoongAng Ilbo, January 22, 2010, Page 31) 
 
By Senior Reporter Oh Dae-young 
 
"Haiti has received contributions and offers of support from 
countries across the world, including Korea.  I know the assistance 
from Korea will be very welcome." 
 
This is part of the blog entry that U.S. Ambassador to the ROK 
Kathleen Stephens posted on her Web blog at "Caf USA," an Internet 
community for the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, 
(http://cafe.daum.net/usembassy), under the title, "Earthquake in 
Haiti" on January 21. 
 
Since the Ambassador was appointed to the ROK in September, 2008, 
she has been running her blog called "Shim Eun-kyong's Life in 
Korea."   She gained the Korean name "Shim Eun-kyong" when serving 
as a Peace Corps member in the ROK in the 1970s.  The postings are 
 
SEOUL 00000089  005 OF 005 
 
 
uploaded both in English and Korean.  The Embassy Press Office 
noted, "When Ambassador Stephens writes an article in English, a 
staff member translates it into Korean and posts it on the blog. 
This is the first time a U.S. Ambassador (to Korea) has written a 
blog post on a regular basis." 
 
Up through January 21, 2010, a total of 58 articles have been posted 
on her blog.  She wrote 4 articles per month on average.  Each 
article was read by at least 200 people.  Some articles drew more 
than 2,000 readers.  In her blog, the Ambassador mainly talks about 
her personal feelings on special occasions, such as U.S. President 
Barack Obama's visit to the ROK, the passing of Cardinal Kim Kim 
Sou-hwan and biking in Jeollabuk-do. 
 
She said on January 21, "It (the blog) was in fact a suggestion by 
some of my Korean staff that, given the interest in my appointment 
to Korea, there might be some interest among Koreans in hearing more 
informally about what it's like to live in Korea again after so many 
years, and particularly about the changes I see in Korea and in the 
U.S.-Korea relationship.  So I decided to try writing a blog," 
adding, "I usually try to think on Sunday evenings about what the 
week has been like and what might be interesting to include in the 
blog.  Then I spend some time on Monday morning writing it."  She 
remarked, "My blog is becoming a place for communication where 
people express their opinions or recommend Korean movies or 
performances."  In other words, her "blog diplomacy" is proving its 
worth. 
 
Her blog posts even contain some related photos, giving a sense of 
realism to her articles.  The article posted last August titled 
"National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day" had a photo of General 
Mark Clark, U.S. Army Commander in Chief Far East Command, signing 
the Korean Armistice on July 27, 1953.  The photo was from the 
U.S.'s National Archives.  In the article, while mentioning that 
President Barack Obama issued a proclamation declaring July 27, 
2009, "National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day" and that, 
therefore, all U.S. government buildings lowered their flags to 
half-staff, she posted a photo of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul flying 
the U.S. flag at half-staff. 
 
Last November, she wrote about the story behind President Obama's 
visit to Seoul.  She noted, "It was also clear that President Obama 
is no stranger to Korean food.  Sinsello (royal hot pot) was new to 
President Obama, and he was impressed.  Like me, he liked trying all 
the banchan, and was particularly taken with fried dry seaweed.  I 
think I'm going to have to send him some for the White House." 
 
After watching a play "Jjamppong" and a musical "Bbalrae" at 
Daehakro last September, she wrote on her blog, "Talking after the 
performances about the themes the plays examined, like the Gwangju 
Democratization Movement, I truly felt I was enjoying myself one of 
the great fruits of Korea's democratic blossoming."  She also 
suggested, "I wonder if the technology exists to provide surtitles, 
at least for the main lines, as is often done these days for operas. 
 These pieces have very high production values and the only thing 
that keeps them from being accessible to non-Korean audiences is the 
language.  Even if only the song lyrics were surtitled it would be a 
great addition to the Korean wave."  Last November, the Ambassador 
said, "One of my goals as Ambassador is to accelerate the 
complicated process that will allow us to move the U.S. Embassy from 
its current location to a modern, purpose-built Chancery that will 
reflect the maturity and importance of the U.S.-Korean 
relationship." 
 
Her posts draw many comments, such as "The pictures are nice" and 
"Your warm-hearted articles are impressive," to which Ambassador 
Stephens sometimes adds her own comments. 
 
 
STEPHENS