Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL2185
2006-06-30 10:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
ROK SURVEY VESSEL IN DISPUTED WATERS NEXT WEEK
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #2185 1811030 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 301030Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8770 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0888 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0956 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR
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
-------
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
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