Cablegate: Seoul - Press Bulletin; October 9, 2009
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SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; October 9, 2009
TOP HEADLINES
-------------
Chosun Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, All TVs
Military Seeks to Revive Incentives for Men who Finish Military
Service, a Move Likely to Invite Backlash
from Women's Associations
JoongAng Ilbo
ROKG to Restrict State-Controlled Companies'
Dollar Borrowing
Dong-a Ilbo
Military to Toughen Punishment for Draft Dodgers
Hankyoreh Shinmun
Blue House's Unconvincing Explanation of
Donation Allegations
Only Deepens Suspicions
Segye Ilbo
ROKG Seeks to Ban Civil Servant Labor Unions
from Joining Nation's Two Umbrella Labor Groups
Seoul Shinmun
Financial Supervisory Service to Toughen Rules
on Non-Bank Mortgages
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
---------------------
According to an ROKG source, Seoul is considering sending troops or
police officers to Afghanistan to guard Korean citizens who are
working there providing medical and other non-military services.
Given the opposition parties' objection to sending troops to the
war-torn country, this move is likely to arouse controversy.
(Hankook, Segye, Seoul, MBC)
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said during yesterday's regular press
briefing that the recent seizure of four North Korean containers in
Busan is "part of measures to implement U.N Security Council
Resolution 1874." (Dong-a)
MEDIA ANALYSIS
--------------
-Afghanistan
------------
Citing an ROKG source, most media reported that Seoul is considering
sending troops or police officers to Afghanistan to guard Korean
citizens who are working in Afghanistan providing medical and other
non-military services. Noting the opposition parties' objection to
sending troops to the war-torn country, the media surmised that this
ROKG move is likely to arouse controversy.
Assistant Secretary of State Campbell's Asia Visit
---------------------------------------------
Conservative Chosun Ilbo, right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo and moderate
Hankook Ilbo noted Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell's regional tour
next week that includes visits to Japan and China, but not the ROK.
The newspapers described this U.S. move as "unusual" and
"incomprehensible," because this is a crucial time for closer
ROK-U.S. coordination ahead of President Obama's Nov. 18-19 visit to
Seoul and U.S.-North Korea talks. The newspapers also speculated
that this development may be related to recent controversy over
Assistant Secretary Campbell's remarks regarding a "grand bargain"
proposed by President Lee Myung-bak to resolve the North Korean
nuclear issue. Assistant Secretary Campbell said last month that he
was "not aware of Lee's 'grand bargain' at all," creating a stir in
the ROK because his statement gave the impression that there had
been no prior discussion about the proposal between the two
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countries.
Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized: "It seems unnatural for
Assistant Secretary Campbell to skip the ROK while visiting China
and Japan, especially if his trip is intended to discuss agenda
items for President Obama's upcoming Asia tour as reported. Seoul
and Washington are saying that there are no bilateral differences
about how to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. However, after
watching recent developments, we wonder if it is appropriate to take
their words at face value."
Opinions/Editorials
IS THERE REALLY NO RIFT BETWEEN SEOUL AND WASHINGTON? (Chosun Ilbo,
October 9, 2009, page 39)
Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Kurt Campbell is expected to visit Japan and China next week for
advance talks about the agenda for U.S. President Barack Obama's
first visit to Asia from Nov. 12 to 19. Obama visits Japan on Nov.
12 and 13, attends the APEC Summit in Singapore, and then visits
China and the ROK, but Campbell will not be stopping in Seoul.
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan on Thursday said the U.S. is holding
"a sufficient amount of talks" with Korea about the summit "through
various diplomatic channels." Yu added Campbell "may be busy."
In a speech in New York last month, President Lee Myung-bak
suggested offering North Korea a "grand bargain" to get it to scrap
its nuclear program, a one-shot deal involving security guarantees
and international assistance. Campbell later said he was not aware
of the president's comments, and the U.S. media quoted American
government officials as saying the suggestion "goes too far." In a
press conference after returning to Seoul, Lee appeared to publicly
reproach Campbell, saying, "So what if 'Mr. So-and-So' says he is
not aware of it."
The U.S. point man for East Asian and Pacific affairs does not
always visit all three countries --Korea, Japan and China -- when he
flies to the region. Campbell, who was appointed in June, went only
to the ROK and Japan in July and only to Japan between Sept. 17 and
19 to meet with the officials of the new administration. It seems
unnatural for Assistant Secretary Campbell to skip the ROK while
visiting China and Japan, especially if his trip is intended to
discuss agenda items for President Obama's upcoming Asia tour as
reported.
Seoul and Washington are saying that there is no bilateral
difference over how to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.
However, after watching recent developments, we wonder if it is
appropriate to take their words at face value.
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is
identical to the Korean version.)
FEATURES
REASON WHY U.S. UNDER SECRETARY VISITS "DAUM"
(Korea Economic Daily, October 9, 2009)
By Reporter Park Chul-eung
Daum Communications said on October 8 that U.S. Under Secretary
Judith McHale visited the company in Hannam-dong, Seoul. The visit
was aimed at learning about Internet services and new media trends
in Korea.
Under Secretary McHale was briefed on Korea's Internet trends and
Daum's business strategy and service operating system for about an
hour.
Daum said that Under Secretary McHale showed particular interest in
the Internet community of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and examples of
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mutual cooperation between the Embassy and Daum.
Currently available on Daum are U.S. Ambassador to the ROK Kathleen
Stephens' blog, "Shim Eun-kyong's Story in Korea," and the official
online community of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, which was opened in
2004.
In addition, Daum has hosted various events, including an
"Internet-Mobile On-Air Discussion between USFK Commander and
Netizen Panelists," "Meeting between the U.S. Embassy and Netizens
about U.S. Visas," and an "Internet Opinion Leaders' Roundtable with
U.S. Secretary Rice."
Meanwhile, Under Secretary McHale, who was the CEO of the global
media company Discovery Communications from 1987 to 2006, is
reported to be highly interested in the "contents industry"
(companies owning and providing media products). At present, she is
serving as the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy
and Public Affairs.
(Editor's Note: The same story was also carried by The Electronic
Times and most major Internet media outlets, including Money Today,
Digital Times, Digital Daily, and Newsis.)
DISPLEASED WITH CONTROVERSY OVER "GRAND BARGAIN" PROPOSAL?
(Chosun Ilbo, October 9, 2009, page 5)
By Reporter Lim Min-hyuk
U.S. Assistant Secretary Campbell Skips the ROK while visiting China
and Japan
The U.S. Department of State said on October 8 that Assistant
Secretary of State Kurt Campbell will attend a meeting of U.S.
diplomatic mission chiefs in the East Asia and Pacific region, which
will be held in Honolulu at the end of this week, and visit Japan
and China next week. Attention is being drawn to why the planned
regional trip by the Assistant Secretary this time excludes the
ROK.
It is almost unprecedented for a U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
for East Asian and Pacific Affairs to skip the ROK while visiting
China and Japan since the days of his predecessor Christopher Hill.
In addition, this U.S. move is deemed incomprehensible, given that
this is a crucial time for closer ROK-U.S. coordination ahead of
President Obama's Nov. 18-19 visit to Seoul and U.S.-North Korea
talks.
Therefore, some observers believe that this is related to a
controversy over Campbell's remarks on President Lee's envisioned
"Grand Bargain" proposal. Assistant Secretary Campbell said last
month, "I was not aware of that" setting off concerns that the ROK
and the U.S. lacked prior coordination. Later, President Lee
indirectly expressed regret saying that it doesn't matter whether a
U.S. official says he was not aware (of the proposal.)
The ROK's Foreign Ministry cautions against playing up this
situation, saying that there is no reason to attach meaning (to
skipping Korea on this trip). An ROKG official said that only Japan
and China were included in his itinerary apparently because Japan
has a new government and Campbell has not visited China since his
appointment. The official also noted that the Assistant Secretary
skipped China while visiting the ROK and Japan in July.
However, an ROK diplomatic source said that, especially at this time
when the North Korean nuclear issue becomes sensitive, Campbell
could demonstrate tight coordination (between the ROK and the U.S.)
just by visiting an ally even if he does not have anything urgent to
discuss, adding that this situation doesn't look good.
TOKOLA