USFK COMMANDER'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON PRESIDENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001478

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: AFTER KOREAN REUNIFICATION
TAGS: PREL PARM MARR JA KN KS
SUBJECT: USFK COMMANDER'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON PRESIDENT
ROH MOO-HYUN - OPCON AND JAPAN DISPUTE

Classified By: Amb. Alexander Vershbow. Reasons 1.4 (b, d).

SUMMARY
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1. (C) In his May 1 introductory call on President Roh
Moo-hyun, USFK Commander Gen. B.B. Bell underscored the U.S.
commitment to the bilateral alliance and stressed that, in
his capacity as CFC Commander, he served the Presidents of
both countries equally. Bell stated that the ROK's desire
for independent operational control (OPCON) was natural, and
the United States was ready to move "as fast as the ROK saw
fit." Bell underscored the need to find ways to cement the
alliance and not let "small issues" crack the foundation,
hinting that the ROK needed to move on the issue of
environmental remediation. Roh responded positively to
Bell's overall message but did not address environmental
remediation or dwell long on the OPCON issue. Rather, he
used the meeting to lay out South Korea's familiar concerns
about Japan's provocative behavior toward Korea, urging the
United States to better appreciate the historical
implications of Japan's recent maritime dispute with the ROK
on the Dokdo/Takeshima islets and continued visits to the
Yasukuni shrine by Japanese leaders and politicians. The
Ambassador called for a long-term solution through dialogue,
stressing that the United States would not take sides on the
issue. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) On May 1, accompanied by the Ambassador, USFK
Commander Gen. B.B. Bell called on President Roh Moo-hyun.
President Roh was accompanied by Defense Minister Yoon
Kwang-woong, National Security Secretary Song Min-soon, ROK
JCS Chairman Lee Sang Hee, and Deputy NSA Suh Choo-seok.

U.S., ROK NOT TO LET SMALL ISSUES DETRACT FROM ALLIANCE
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3. (C) Gen. Bell stated how impressed he was by South
Korea's transformation into a full democracy and its economic
progress since his earlier tour in the ROK as a young
officer. He stressed that, in his capacity as CFC Commander,
he served the Presidents of both the United States and the
ROK equally. Although he had unilateral responsibility as
USFK Commander, he would carefully balance this with his
other role as CFC Commander. Bell underscored that he would
work hard to address the ROK's military concerns as well as
those of the United States. It was important to find ways to
cement the alliance and not let "small issues" crack the
foundation, Bell said, alluding implicitly to the need for
the ROK to resolve the issue of environmental remediation for
the USFK bases returning to the ROKG.


4. (C) Roh, without addressing environmental remediation,
thanked Bell for his positive assessment. The United States
had played an integral part in Korea's development and its
role was ongoing. One area of retrogression, Roh noted, was
the decline in the authority of the President and the
government that accompanied democratization. He agreed with
Bell's point that minor differences between the two sides
should not be allowed to damage the alliance. Achieving
perfect convergence of objectives was impossible, so the
United States and the ROK should acknowledge the differences
and work together to resolve them. The hardest element, Roh
pointed out, was the South Korean media's tendency to
exaggerate the differences as symptoms of larger strife
between the two allies.

SETTLING DIFFERENCES WITH PYONGTAEK RESIDENTS ON RELOCATION
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5. (C) In response to Roh's query whether Korea remained a
difficult place for U.S. military to serve, Bell said his
objective was to make tours in Korea "more normal." To do
this, USFK would expand facilities and programs to: (1) help
U.S. soldiers get more in touch with the local culture; (2)
have family members accompany them; and (3) serve longer
tours. Relocating the bases to two hubs would be key to
achieving this, Bell said. Noting the local resistance to
base relocation in Pyongtaek, Bell hoped the ROKG could find
a solution that was acceptable to the citizens of Pyongtaek.


6. (C) Roh asked what was the reason for having U.S.

soldiers serve short tours in Korea unaccompanied by family
members. Bell responded that the practice was had been
established at a time when there was a greater threat
perception from the North. With recent changes on the Korean
Peninsula, the time was ripe for changing this practice, Bell
said, pointing out that U.S. soldiers had served longer tours
with their family members in Europe even during the Cold War.
Roh promised the ROK would do all it could to help improve
conditions for USFK personnel.

OPCON: U.S. TO PROCEED AS FAST AS ROK SAW FIT
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7. (C) On the issue of transferring wartime operational
control (OPCON) to the ROK, Bell stated that Seoul's desire
for independent OPCON was natural and sensible from
Washington's perspective. The United States was ready to
discuss the path toward that goal. Recalling Secretary
Rumsfeld's earlier comments on the issue, Bell said the
United States would move "as fast as the ROK saw fit." Roh
said he was relieved by the convergence of view on the issue
by the two governments. Some anti-American groups in the ROK
opposed any cooperation with the United States and
continually tried to stir up anti-American sentiments in
Pyongtaek to oppose base relocation. Roh thought it was
noteworthy that issues like OPCON and increased ROK
responsibility in CFC, by strengthening the alliance, would
actually stir up anti-American sentiments on the part of
those opposed to the alliance. Bell expressed confidence
that the two allies could manage such issues.

REVISITING FAMILIAR THEMES IN ROK-JAPAN FEUD
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8. (C) Roh, conspicuously steering the discussion to Japan,
noted that "a number of people" opposed Japan's rearmament,
although he himself was not opposed to Japan building up its
military enough to be a normal state. Focusing on familiar
themes, Roh urged the United States to be more mindful of the
historical implications of Japan's recent provocative actions
toward Korea. Roh explained, in great detail, three previous
attempts by Japan to expand its territory from the 5th
century A.D. to the late 16th century, and again in the late
19th century, leading to the occupation of Korea. Japan's
expansionist ambitions consequently led to Korea's division
and civil war, which was the source of the Korean people's
anxiety about Japan's intentions in the region. Even now, 60
years after Korea's liberation, the Japanese continued to
evoke concerns of a "fourth manifestation of expansionism" by
claiming territorial rights over the Dokdo islets (Liancourt
Rocks),having government officials and politicians visit the
Yasukuni Shrine, and continuing other provocative actions,
Roh said. Even though South Korea had historically
maintained strong ties to Japan out of consideration for
Seoul's relationship with the United States, Japan's
continued display of imprudence would push the Korea to
reexamine its position. Bell said all parties, including the
United States, wanted to see the problem resolved amicably
between Korea and Japan.

AMB: U.S. TO BE EVEN-HANDED ON ROK-JAPAN DIFFERENCES
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9. (C) Roh, noting the Ambassador's presence, brought up the
recent maritime survey dispute between Korea and Japan,
arguing that the ROK had compromised greatly by not changing
the names of undersea features in its exclusive economic zone
despite Japanese provocation. Japan started the problem by
sending out survey ships even though it had representation on
the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)
subcommittee on names, which gave it ample opportunity to
defend its position. Tokyo's reckless behavior could have
resulted in devastating consequences. The Ambassador said it
was fortunate that skillful diplomacy from both countries had
defused the crisis and called for a long-term solution
through dialogue. Stressing that both Korea and Japan were
close allies of the United States, the Ambassador underscored
that the United States would be studiously even-handed on the
issue. Roh, stating that he understood the U.S. position,
again urged Washington to examine Japan's actions in a
broader historical context, implying that the issue was
bigger than a minor territorial dispute.

VERSHBOW