ROK SURVEY VESSEL IN DISPUTED WATERS NEXT WEEK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002185 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015 TAGS: PREL PBTS PHSA KS JA SUBJECT: ROK SURVEY VESSEL IN DISPUTED WATERS NEXT WEEK REF: TOKYO 3623 Classified By: A/DCM Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) MOFAT DG for the Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau Lee Hyuk on June 30 told A/DCM that the ROK planned to dispatch a research vessel on July 3 to conduct a sea stream survey, arriving possibly as soon as July 4 or 5, in waters of overlapping claims with Japan. Seoul, however, did not consider the waters to be in dispute because it viewed the Liancourt Rocks as Korean territory and was acting within its sovereign rights. Concerned about Japanese attempts to publicize the issue and enflame tension, Lee requested that Washington urge Japan to exercise restraint. END SUMMARY. . ROKG: NO NEED TO CANCEL LEGITIMATE SURVEY -------------- ¶2. (C) On June 30, A/DCM requested a meeting with Lee Hyuk, Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to get an update on ROK plans to conduct surveys in the waters around the Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo/Takeshima). Lee responded that the ROK would dispatch a research vessel on July 3 to begin a sea stream survey in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) to gather undersea data for maritime safety purposes. The location to be surveyed overlapped with Japanese claims, however the ROK did not consider such claims valid because the Liancourt Rocks were Korean, he said. Lee insisted that under international maritime law, a country only needed consent for scientific studies from the host country, which in this case was Korea. ¶3. (C) Lee said Korea conducted similar scientific studies every year since 2000, except for 2004 when the survey was canceled due to bad weather. The ROK announced its intention to conduct this year's survey in a paper submitted to the International Hydrographic Organization on January 27, 2006. In the past, Japan had privately protested ROK surveys, including having Japanese patrol ships approach ROK vessels, but there had been no physical clashes. The ROK was concerned and upset with Japanese attempts this year to change the status quo by preventing the Korean survey and by escalating tensions through publicizing the issue. He opined that Tokyo was probably doing this for domestic political reasons. The ROK had no intention to cancel its "lawful" survey and would face domestic problems if it yielded, suggesting only in half jest that he would be fired. . NEXT STEPS -------------- ¶4. (C) Lee said the survey vessel dispatched on July 3 would reach the disputed waters within one or two days, adding that the ROK had recently adjusted its schedule without informing Japan. There was a high possibility that the ROK vessel would be followed by a ROK patrol boat. The patrol boat would keep its distance, unless a Japanese ship tried to impede the survey. ¶5. (C) Lee urged Washington to persuade Tokyo to exercise restraint and not interfere in the "lawful" study. If Japan tried to impede the survey by sending a patrol boat, this would raise the level of tension to a high degree. VERSHBOW