MAINTAINING THE MOMENTUM ON LEBANON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 003109 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2016 TAGS: PARM PREL MOPS MARR PBTS KS SUBJECT: MAINTAINING THE MOMENTUM ON LEBANON REF: A. SECSTATE 148157 ¶B. SEOUL 03062 ¶C. SEOUL 03104 Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION WILLIAM A. STANTON. REASONS: 1. 4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) This message is in response to reftel A. ¶2. (C) During separate meetings on September 6 with the Ambassador, South Korean Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) Yu Myung-hwan and Minister of National Defense (MND) Yoon Kwang-ung both explained that the ROKG would dispatch an assessment team to Lebanon this month to assess the security situation on the ground and consult with appropriate Lebanese government ministries before deciding how to best contribute to the UNIFIL peacekeeping effort. Currently, MND is planning to contribute a 30-40 person medical team, however Defense Minister Yoon told the Ambassador that after hearing from the assessment team the South Korean government would have a "comprehensive discussion" that would include the possibility of dispatching ground forces to Lebanon (reftel C). ¶3. (C) On September 8, MOFAT UN Division Director Oh Young Joo confirmed to POLOFF that a three-person ROK assessment team, consisting of officials from MOFAT, MND, and the Blue House would travel to Lebanon in late September. VERSHBOW