AMBASSADOR'S JULY 14 MEETING WITH NA SPEAKER LIM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002405

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: FIVE YEARS AFTER KOREAN UNIFICATION
TAGS: PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S JULY 14 MEETING WITH NA SPEAKER LIM
CHAE-JUNG


Classified By: AMB. ALEXANDER VERSHBOW. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)

SUMMARY
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1. (C) In a July 14 meeting with the Ambassador, ROK National
Assembly Speaker Lim Chae-jung said that he was upset with
the DPRK and hoped to work with the U.S. to find a unified
response to the post-missile-launch situation. He agreed
that a UN resolution was the next step but said Chapter 7
language was unacceptable. Speaker Lim noted the FTA was of
key interest to the National Assembly and he was optimistic
that a well negotiated KORUS FTA would pass the Korean
National Assembly. END SUMMARY

FTA
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2. (C) Ambassador Vershbow noted that he valued his role as
liaison with the National Assembly (NA). He emphasized that
while he did not agree with the protestors who were
demonstrating against the FTA, he saw their activity as a
healthy symbol of the strength of Korea,s democracy.
However, he noted that dialogue between opponents and
proponents of an FTA was the key in both countries to coming
up with a KORUS FTA acceptable to both the U.S. and Korea.
Speaker Lim said he hoped the result of the FTA negotiations
would be a signed agreement that would benefit both
countries. He added the ROKG has consistently supported the
FTA despite certain areas of concern.


3. (SBU) Speaker Lim explained the KORUS FTA had many areas
that needed negotiation that reflected differences in opinion
on how Korea should develop; but in the end, the ROKG and the
NA would work together for a positive result. Ambassador
Vershbow agreed that the process was about narrowing the
differences in opinion between the two countries on the
sensitive issues. He added that it was important to come to
an agreement acceptable to both sides so that it could pass
both countries, respective legislative bodies.

VWP
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4. (SBU) The Ambassador said he hoped to see the Visa Waiver
Program (VWP) implemented soon. Although much work was left
to be done, he was optimistic. Speaker Lim heartily agreed
that the VWP would help U.S.-ROK relations immensely.

MISSILE RESPONSE AND THE ROAD TO AN OPEN DPRK
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5. (C) Speaker Lim expressed strong disappointment with
North Korea, and noted he did not "understand the missile
tests and could not accept the tests8. He declared the DPRK
would not receive any compensation as a result of the
launches. However, he said he could not agree with Japan,s
draft UNSC resolution, which include Chapter 7 language. He
said while the ROK understood that Japan,s proposal did not
include the use of force, he argued that the resolution as
drafted by Japan could lead to a more dangerous future with
worrisome implications for South Korean sovereignty. He
conceded that there should be a unified voice with the UN
resolution, but that it should not include language about
Chapter 7.


6. (SBU) Ambassador Vershbow said one of his goals was to
contribute toward an opening of North Korea. Speaker Lim
said that it was important to note that most countries open
not due to outside pressure, but to the help of neighboring
countries. He said the ROK is trying to help North Korea
develop through aid and support. The two agreed the U.S. and
ROK have the same goal: an open, non-nuclear DPRK, but had
different ideas about how the goals should be acheived.

SOLVING THE NORTH KOREA PROBLEM
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7. (C) The Ambassador said the North Korea problem had to be
solved through the leadership efforts of the U.S. and ROK.
Speaker Lim agreed and said the ROK and the U.S. need to work
together and think about the future of the Peninsula and

about a peaceful, reunified Korea. The Ambassador agreed and
said the U.S. and the ROK should work together on a strategy
for the Six Party Talks and implementing the September 19
Joint Statement.


8. (C) Speaker Lim said he was heartened by President
Bush,s forthright statement in favor of finding a solution
to the DPRK problem through diplomacy. He asked that the
U.S. remember that if force were used, the ROK would be the
country that suffered the most. Ambassador Vershbow said he
understood the immediacy of the threat as &I live in Seoul
and feel how close we are to North Korea.8

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
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9. (SBU) Speaker Lim noted he did not expect a change in the
Constitution during his term as Speaker despite thinking the
Constitution needed to be changed (to permit two four-year
terms for the President rather than one five-year term).
Rather, he said he would work to prepare the country for the
changes that should come in the future. He concluded that
the Constitution should be changed only when there is broad
public consensus after healthy debate. He cautioned that in
the past the Constitution had been reformed for short-term
political goals rather than for the future of the Korean
people, and vowed that would not happen again.
VERSHBOW