VZCZCXRO2214
RR RUEHGH
DE RUEHUL #1293 2260428
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140428Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5337
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 9012
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6544
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0158
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6464
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 1134
RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 4885
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 3853
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 7054
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1388
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2706
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1785
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2393
UNCLAS SEOUL 001293
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
East Asia and Pacific: DPRK
---------------------------
"MODERATING PRESSURE ON N. KOREA IS THE KEY"
Senior Journalist Kim Young-hie opined in right-of-center JoongAng
Ilbo (08/14): "(Current) International sanctions against North Korea
are much more powerful and effective than any other sanctions in the
past. ... North Korea's invitations of former President Clinton and
Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jung-eun are related to this grave
situation. ... What matters is moderating the intensity of
sanctions. It is time to calculate accurately to what extent we
should put pressure on North Korea in order to maximize the effects
of sanctions and to bring the North back to the Six-Party Talks,
while making the country deliver on its agreements. Otherwise,
North Korea will become desperate - like a mouse chased by a cat -
and resort to self-destructive acts, including nuclear and missile
tests. Now that U.S. -North Korea relations have entered a new
phase, the release of the Hyundai Asan employee may serve as a
significant breakthrough in inter-Korean relations."
STEPHENS