VZCZCXRO4754
RR RUEHGH
DE RUEHUL #1942 3480118
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140118Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6469
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 9513
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 7102
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0608
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 1597
RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 5420
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 4350
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 7563
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1836
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3139
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2216
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2822
UNCLAS SEOUL 001942
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
Subject: Media Reaction; Seoul
East Asia and Pacific: DPRK, Six-Party Talks
"DELAYED RESUMPTION OF SIX-PARTY TALKS WILL INCREASE N. KOREA'S
SUFFERING"
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo editorialized (12/11): "We cannot give good
marks to North Korea, which did not clearly promise to return to the
Six-Party Talks. If we must talk about the achievement of this
dialogue, it seems to be that the U.S. and North Korea exchanged
their true intentions for the first time. ... If North Korea
acknowledged the need for the Six-Party Talks, it has no reason to
drag its feet. The later the North rejoins the Six-Party Talks, the
harsher the suffering caused by the UN sanctions."
"EVEN THOUGH OUTCOME OF BOSWORTH'S N. KOREA VISIT IS DISAPPOINTING"
Moderate Hankook Ilbo editorialized (12/11): "We don't think that
Ambassador Bosworth's visit to North Korea was meaningless. The
fact that the two sides have shared the importance of implementing
the September 19 Joint Statement, which provides the raison d'tre
of the Six-Party Talks, represents a great step forward toward
restarting the Six-Party Talks. As Ambassador Bosworth put it, if
the two sides had candid and sincere talks, their mutual trust could
also be deepened further. We hope that this (momentum) will lead
the U.S. and North Korea to reach agreement to resume the Six-Party
Talks as early as possible through ... further dialogue."
"LEE ADMINISTRATION MUST TAKE FIRST STEP TOWARD DIALOGUE WITH N.
KOREA"
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized (12/11): "Since the
U.S. has demonstrated its determination for negotiations, it is
North Korea's turn to make a decision. More than anything else,
there is no reason for the North to delay its return to the
Six-Party Talks. Any issues of concern - whether it is a peace
treaty, normalization of ties or economic aid - can be discussed
only when the Six-Party Talks resume."
STEPHENS