Local paper headlines_Oct.13

1. Chosun Ilbo

- Worries are mounting whether the government can effectively handle a crisis after it has shown confused attitudes towards North Korea’s nuclear test. The issues on which the government hasn’t clearly decided its stance varies from the PSI participation, inter-Korean summit, Kaesung Industrial Park & Mr. Kumkang tour, and its engagement policy.

- The 38th annual ROK-US Security Consultative Meeting, slated to be held on 20th in Washington, is expected to change its focus from wartime command transfer to North Korean nuclear issues. A high-ranking defense official said “it is expected that US provision of nuclear umbrella to Korea will be discussed comprehensively.” Another official said “the two countries haven’t had any concrete consultation on more advanced provision of nuclear umbrella yet.”

- A group of former defense ministers released a statement yesterday condemning North Korea’s N-test. The statement includes the overhaul of security policy, scrap of wartime command transfer, re-positioning of US strategic nuclear weapons in Korea, the write-off of inter-Korean businesses and assistance to North Korea, and the construction of nuclear shelter.

- The Unification Ministry is reported to have prepared a confidential internal report in preparation for a possible nuclear test by North Korea. According to the report, the government would stop its assistance to Kaesung and Mt. Kumkang businesses. When the North actually launched its underground test, the measure was put on hold by President Roh and Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok. Lee told to the National Assembly “the two big businesses are still necessary for us, and if we stop the businesses, private companies related to the projects will have heavy losses and the security conditions will further de-stabilize.” “We should be very cautious on the matter until the UN Security Council strictly urges us to abandon the projects.”

2. Maeil Business Daily

- Though North Korea’ N-test has left real estate transactions in Northern Metropolitan area frozen for a while, the Kangnam region seems unaffected by the test. According to ‘Serve,’ real estate information agency, the price for apartment which is soon to be reconstructed, has been on the rise for five consecutive weeks, topping W30.8 m per pyong on October 4.

- The biggest ever US economic mission of 200 entrepreneurs and state representatives will visit Korea to attend a meeting for improving Korea-US economic cooperation which is to be held on 15-16 in Seoul.

- In a lecture on North Korean nuclear problems organized by Democracy Politics Philosophy Research Institute, Hwang Jang-yeop said “North Korea has stockpiled as many nuclear weapons as possible, which is what I understand” He said “Kim Jong-il said to me ‘I have succeeded in making nuclear weapons,’ before the year 1993 when the North’s refusal to accept nuclear inspection broke out.”