ROK RESPONSE TO RESTRICTING ARMS SALES TO VENEZUELA

S E C R E T SEOUL 001398 SIPDIS SIPDIS PACOM FOR FPA HUSO JOINT STAFF FOR NESA-LTC DEALE OSD FOR ISA/KOREA LTC FINNEGAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2014 TAGS: MARR MASS PARM PREL VE KS SUBJECT: ROK RESPONSE TO RESTRICTING ARMS SALES TO VENEZUELA REF: A. STATE 36506 ¶B. STATE 18378 ¶C. SEOUL 474 ¶D. SEOUL 432 Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b,d). (S) Following up on Ref C and D discussions, on April 26, MOFAT South America Division Director Park Dong-won conveyed to PolMil Chief the ROKG's response on the U.S. request to restrict arms sales to Venezuela. Apologizing for the late reply, Park said the ROKG interagency had deliberated very carefully on the sensitive matter. The ROKG fully understood the USG's strong concerns about sale of arms to Venezuela. However, given the ROK's small volume of arms exports to Venezuela, the ROKG decided that imposing a complete embargo could lead to unnecessary misunderstanding between the ROK and other Latin American countries. Therefore, the ROKG would allow one ongoing contract for transfer of munition components to conclude. In response to questions, Park clarified that the contract had been signed last year and that most of the items had already been delivered. As far as MOFAT is aware, there was no other pending transfer of defense items. Although that one transaction would proceed, Park said the ROKG would scrutinize closely all future arms related exports to Venezuela, following relevant ROK export policy and regulations, and stop as necessary those that might cause destabilizing effect. VERSHBOW