Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL1692
2006-05-19 08:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:  

NO PROGRESS AT INTER-KOREAN MILITARY TALKS

Tags:  PARM PREL KN KS 
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VZCZCXYZ0006
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #1692 1390838
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 190838Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7996
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0669
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0745
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP//
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J3 SEOUL KOR
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001692 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL KN KS
SUBJECT: NO PROGRESS AT INTER-KOREAN MILITARY TALKS

REF: SEOUL 00731

Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001692

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL KN KS
SUBJECT: NO PROGRESS AT INTER-KOREAN MILITARY TALKS

REF: SEOUL 00731

Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Three days of the inter-Korean general
officer-level military talks ended on May 19 without any
agreement on key agenda items. The ROK side had hoped to map
out measures to avoid clashes in the West Sea and receive
assurances regarding safe cross-border passage of roads and
railways in advance of former President Kim Dae Jung's
anticipated visit to the DPRK. However, the North's
exclusive focus on redrawing the validity of the Northern
Limit Line prevented any progress on other issues. The two
sides also could not agree on scheduling a N-S Defense
Ministerial or the next round of general officer talks.
Disappointed at the lack of progress at the talks, ROK
officials told us that they were surprised that the North
would not even agree to provide security guarantees for the
inter-Korean railroad. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) General officers from the two Koreas met on May 17-19
at Panmunjom truce village in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
The three-day gathering was the third of its kind since June
2004 and the fourth since the inter-Korean summit in 2000.
The five-member ROK delegation was led by MND Policy and
Planning DG Army Major General Han Min-koo. The DPRK
delegation, also consisting of five members, was led by KPA
Lieutenant General Kim Yong-chol.


3. (C) According to MND officials, the ROK's main agendas for
the meeting were measures to prevent clashes in the West Sea
and guarantees of safe passage to and from Pyongyang in
anticipation of former President Kim Dae Jung's visit to the
North in June. The ROK also had hoped to schedule the next
round of the general officer-level talks and a second round
of the N-S Defense Ministerial.


4. (C) Confirming press reports, MOFAT, MND and UNCMAC
interlocutors told us that the talks failed to make any
progress on the main agenda items, with both sides holding
ground on their issues of importance. The ROK's effort to
discuss key issues was blocked by the North's exclusive focus
on redrawing the Northern Limit Line (NLL). The DPRK
delegation reiterated its previous stance from the last round
in March (reftel) that the NLL issue had to be addressed
before the talks could cover other issues. The ROK tried to
defer the NLL issue to a ministerial-level meeting, but the
North held firm to its position.


5. (C) The North Korean delegation's insistence on the NLL
issue prevented the ROK delegation from pursuing fully any of
its agenda topics. The two sides were unable to set a date
for a future round of general officer talks nor were they
able to propose a date for a second N-S Defense Ministerial
Meeting. The two sides also failed to agree on a joint
statement.


6. (C) Although the ROKG's expectations were low, MOFAT
official commented that the ROK delegation was surprised the
North would not even cooperate on the issue of safe passage
to and from Pyongyang. Given the importance of former
President Kim Dae Jung's trip, ROK officials had hoped that
the DPRK delegation would accommodate the ROK's request,
separate from other issues including the NLL.
MINTON