Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL2211
2006-07-05 10:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
ROK REACTIONS TO DPRK MISSILE LAUNCHES
how-toVZCZCXYZ0016 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #2211/01 1861012 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 051012Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8814 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0897 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 7382 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0965 RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR 1281 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHMFIUU/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR RHMFIUU/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR
UNCLAS SEOUL 002211
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TAGS: PREL MNUC KNNP KN KS
SUBJECT: ROK REACTIONS TO DPRK MISSILE LAUNCHES
ROKG REACTION
-------------
UNCLAS SEOUL 002211
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SUBJECT: ROK REACTIONS TO DPRK MISSILE LAUNCHES
ROKG REACTION
--------------
1. (SBU) Following an emergency NSC meeting early in the
morning on July 5, ROK Senior Presidential Secretary for
Security Policy Suh Choo-suk announced that the DPRK, between
0332 and 0500 Wednesday, had launched six missiles, including
the Taepo Dong II as well as Scud and Nodong class missiles.
Suh read the official ROKG statement that expressed serious
regret over the missile launch, which would strengthen the
international community's "hardline" stance toward the North
and hurt inter-Korean relations (see para 6 for full text of
ROKG Statement). We understand from our contacts that
Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok had advocated a "soft
stance," which was vigorously opposed by Foreign Minister Ban
Ki-moon and Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-woong.
2. (U) President Roh Moo-hyun presided over a meeting of
security ministers at the Blue House later in the morning.
Subsequently, in a press conference at 1400, Foreign Minister
Ban reiterated the themes of the ROKG statement and Suh's
news conference. Ban emphasized that the ROKG expressed
serious regret for the DPRK missile launch and that the DPRK
should take responsibility for its actions. The Ambassador
met with Foreign Minister Ban at 1700 (local) to discuss the
implications of the missile launches and the likely ROKG
responses (septel).
3. (U) The Ministry of Defense has intensified the ROK
military posture to "general heightened security" and
increased patrols near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and
Northern Limit Line (NLL). However, the overall defense
condition remains unchanged (WatchCon 3 surveillance status
and DefCon 4 readiness status). A U.S.-ROK Combined Forces
Command (CFC) crisis action team has been activated and in
operation status since 0600 hours.
4. (SBU) Assistant Unification Minister Lee Kwan-sei told
reporters that the ROKG was considering canceling
inter-Korean ministerial talks that are planned for July
11-14 in Busan, South Korea. He added that Seoul, however,
would complete an agreed shipment of fertilizer to North
Korea, which our MOU contact later explained was already
scheduled for completion within a matter of days.
5. (U) Vice Finance Minister Bahk Byong-won was cited in
local media reports saying that the DPRK missile launches
would not have any direct influence on the ROK economy,
adding that the financial markets had quickly stabilized
after previous North Korean missile launches.
6. (U) Full text of the ROKG Statement as issued at 1015,
July 5, 2006:
1. The ROK Government has convened the NSC Standing Committee
at the NSC conference room from 7:30 am to 8:40 am this
morning to evaluate North Korea's missile launch and discuss
how to address the situation.
2. On July 5 at 5:30 am at the Hamkyongbukdo Hwadaegun
Daepodong and from 3:32 am at the Kwangwondo Ahnbyungun
Kidaeryong launch site, North Korea has launched a
Daepodong-II (Taepodong-2) and several Scud and Rodong
(Nodong) class missiles toward the East Sea (Sea of Japan),
respectively. It is currently estimated that the Daepodong
missile launch has failed.
3. Since early May, the ROK Government has closely monitored
a series of North Korean activities related to the missile
launch, and has warned North Korea numerous times to withdraw
its launch plans by indicating the negative consequences a
missile launch may bring.
4. The ROK Government expresses its series regret for North
Korea's unwise action to launch, despite our warnings, which
will strengthen the international community's hard-line
stance toward North Korea and thereby further isolating North
Korea internationally, and will harm peace and stability in
Northeast Asia by providing a possible excuse to increase
armaments in the region, and will seriously damage the South
Korean people's sentiments towards North Korea.
5. North Korea should assume responsibilities for the
incident caused by the launch. The ROK Government solemnly
requests North Korea to cease provocative actin and rejoin
the Six Party Talks and resolve the problem through dialogue
and take part in the international nonproliferation efforts.
6. The ROK Government will closely cooperate with relevant
countries on specific measures regarding North Korea's
missile launch.
.
POLITICAL REACTION
--------------
7. (SBU) Ruling Uri Party Chairman Kim Geun-tae told
reporters that "despite the strong urging from the Uri Party
and the ROKG, North Korea has launched missiles . . . We
strongly protest this incident to the North Korean
authorities." A senior member of the ruling Uri Party,
Representative Kim Boo-kyun, told poloff on July 5 that it
was deeply regrettable that the DPRK took an action that ran
counter to the wishes if the international community. During
an emergency Uri Party meeting, many lawmakers wanted the
party and the ROKG to issue a stronger reaction. Some
lawmakers were concerned about the appearance of poor
information sharing between Washington and Seoul, noting that
many believed that the Japanese media had the story before
the ROK did.
8. (U) The opposition Grand National Party issued a
statement criticizing the DPRK for ignoring the warnings of
the ROK and the international community and endangering peace
in Northeast Asia; (2) criticizing the Roh administration for
not cooperating with Washington and Tokyo in speaking with
one voice toward the DPRK; and (3) urging Seoul to seek
greater coordination with Washington and Tokyo.
.
PRESS COVERAGE
--------------
9. (U) Initial press reactions have been primarily limited to
reporting ROKG and international reactions. Some analysts
speculated that Seoul would be under strong pressure by
Washington and Tokyo to join possible international "punitive
actions" against the North. Professor Nam Joo-hong, a North
Korea expert at Kyonggi University was quoted as saying that
if the Roh administration did not join international punitive
actions, ties with Washington might be further strained, and
the ROKG would face harsher criticism from conservatives at
home. Paik Hak-soon, a senior researcher at Sejong
Institute, opined that existing inter-Korean programs could
be maintained, but Seoul should not expand them for the time
being.
VERSHBOW
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NSC FOR CHA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MNUC KNNP KN KS
SUBJECT: ROK REACTIONS TO DPRK MISSILE LAUNCHES
ROKG REACTION
--------------
1. (SBU) Following an emergency NSC meeting early in the
morning on July 5, ROK Senior Presidential Secretary for
Security Policy Suh Choo-suk announced that the DPRK, between
0332 and 0500 Wednesday, had launched six missiles, including
the Taepo Dong II as well as Scud and Nodong class missiles.
Suh read the official ROKG statement that expressed serious
regret over the missile launch, which would strengthen the
international community's "hardline" stance toward the North
and hurt inter-Korean relations (see para 6 for full text of
ROKG Statement). We understand from our contacts that
Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok had advocated a "soft
stance," which was vigorously opposed by Foreign Minister Ban
Ki-moon and Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-woong.
2. (U) President Roh Moo-hyun presided over a meeting of
security ministers at the Blue House later in the morning.
Subsequently, in a press conference at 1400, Foreign Minister
Ban reiterated the themes of the ROKG statement and Suh's
news conference. Ban emphasized that the ROKG expressed
serious regret for the DPRK missile launch and that the DPRK
should take responsibility for its actions. The Ambassador
met with Foreign Minister Ban at 1700 (local) to discuss the
implications of the missile launches and the likely ROKG
responses (septel).
3. (U) The Ministry of Defense has intensified the ROK
military posture to "general heightened security" and
increased patrols near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and
Northern Limit Line (NLL). However, the overall defense
condition remains unchanged (WatchCon 3 surveillance status
and DefCon 4 readiness status). A U.S.-ROK Combined Forces
Command (CFC) crisis action team has been activated and in
operation status since 0600 hours.
4. (SBU) Assistant Unification Minister Lee Kwan-sei told
reporters that the ROKG was considering canceling
inter-Korean ministerial talks that are planned for July
11-14 in Busan, South Korea. He added that Seoul, however,
would complete an agreed shipment of fertilizer to North
Korea, which our MOU contact later explained was already
scheduled for completion within a matter of days.
5. (U) Vice Finance Minister Bahk Byong-won was cited in
local media reports saying that the DPRK missile launches
would not have any direct influence on the ROK economy,
adding that the financial markets had quickly stabilized
after previous North Korean missile launches.
6. (U) Full text of the ROKG Statement as issued at 1015,
July 5, 2006:
1. The ROK Government has convened the NSC Standing Committee
at the NSC conference room from 7:30 am to 8:40 am this
morning to evaluate North Korea's missile launch and discuss
how to address the situation.
2. On July 5 at 5:30 am at the Hamkyongbukdo Hwadaegun
Daepodong and from 3:32 am at the Kwangwondo Ahnbyungun
Kidaeryong launch site, North Korea has launched a
Daepodong-II (Taepodong-2) and several Scud and Rodong
(Nodong) class missiles toward the East Sea (Sea of Japan),
respectively. It is currently estimated that the Daepodong
missile launch has failed.
3. Since early May, the ROK Government has closely monitored
a series of North Korean activities related to the missile
launch, and has warned North Korea numerous times to withdraw
its launch plans by indicating the negative consequences a
missile launch may bring.
4. The ROK Government expresses its series regret for North
Korea's unwise action to launch, despite our warnings, which
will strengthen the international community's hard-line
stance toward North Korea and thereby further isolating North
Korea internationally, and will harm peace and stability in
Northeast Asia by providing a possible excuse to increase
armaments in the region, and will seriously damage the South
Korean people's sentiments towards North Korea.
5. North Korea should assume responsibilities for the
incident caused by the launch. The ROK Government solemnly
requests North Korea to cease provocative actin and rejoin
the Six Party Talks and resolve the problem through dialogue
and take part in the international nonproliferation efforts.
6. The ROK Government will closely cooperate with relevant
countries on specific measures regarding North Korea's
missile launch.
.
POLITICAL REACTION
--------------
7. (SBU) Ruling Uri Party Chairman Kim Geun-tae told
reporters that "despite the strong urging from the Uri Party
and the ROKG, North Korea has launched missiles . . . We
strongly protest this incident to the North Korean
authorities." A senior member of the ruling Uri Party,
Representative Kim Boo-kyun, told poloff on July 5 that it
was deeply regrettable that the DPRK took an action that ran
counter to the wishes if the international community. During
an emergency Uri Party meeting, many lawmakers wanted the
party and the ROKG to issue a stronger reaction. Some
lawmakers were concerned about the appearance of poor
information sharing between Washington and Seoul, noting that
many believed that the Japanese media had the story before
the ROK did.
8. (U) The opposition Grand National Party issued a
statement criticizing the DPRK for ignoring the warnings of
the ROK and the international community and endangering peace
in Northeast Asia; (2) criticizing the Roh administration for
not cooperating with Washington and Tokyo in speaking with
one voice toward the DPRK; and (3) urging Seoul to seek
greater coordination with Washington and Tokyo.
.
PRESS COVERAGE
--------------
9. (U) Initial press reactions have been primarily limited to
reporting ROKG and international reactions. Some analysts
speculated that Seoul would be under strong pressure by
Washington and Tokyo to join possible international "punitive
actions" against the North. Professor Nam Joo-hong, a North
Korea expert at Kyonggi University was quoted as saying that
if the Roh administration did not join international punitive
actions, ties with Washington might be further strained, and
the ROKG would face harsher criticism from conservatives at
home. Paik Hak-soon, a senior researcher at Sejong
Institute, opined that existing inter-Korean programs could
be maintained, but Seoul should not expand them for the time
being.
VERSHBOW