PSI: SOUTH KOREA TO ATTEND EXERCISE LEADING EDGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002989 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2016 TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL SUBJECT: PSI: SOUTH KOREA TO ATTEND EXERCISE LEADING EDGE REF: A. STATE 131944 ¶B. SEOUL 02779 Classified By: A/DCM Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (U) Please see action request at paragraph three. ¶2. (C) On August 29, 2006, Director Park Chul-min, Director of the Disarmament and Nonproliferation Division of the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade informed Embassy POL-MIL Chief that the Republic of Korea accepts the U.S. Government's invitation (conveyed in reftel A) to attend PSI exercise LEADING EDGE in October 2006. Director Park confirmed there has been no change in ROK policy regarding endorsement of the Statement of Interdiction Principles, but explained that the South Korean government had found it very useful to observe previous PSI exercises. He indicated the ROKG would like to send a somewhat larger delegation to the LEADING EDGE exercise, saying he would provide a complete list of proposed delegation members as soon as final decisions are made regarding the composition of their team. ¶3. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Director Park requests that the U.S. Government provide, as soon as possible, all necessary details regarding the U.S.-hosted LEADING EDGE exercise. ¶4. (SBU) Director Park extended his best wishes to the organizers of the exercise, stating that the ROK looks forward to working with the USG, and other PSI participants, on arrangements for its attendance at LEADING EDGE. STANTON