MND READOUT ON OCT 2 N-S KOREAN MIL-TO-MIL TALKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 003421

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2016
TAGS: PARM PREL MARR KN KS
SUBJECT: MND READOUT ON OCT 2 N-S KOREAN MIL-TO-MIL TALKS

Classified By: A/POL BRIAN D. MCFEETERS. REASON 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: MND North Korea Policy Team Director Moon
Seong-mook provided Embassy with a readout on the October 2nd
North-South Mil-to-Mil talks. (NOTE: He has also submitted a
detailed report of this to UNCMAC). During the two hours of
talks, Moon said the DPRK complained about balloons carrying
"propaganda" leaflets, "contraband" carried into the North by
South Korean tourists, and "provocative actions" by UNC
personnel near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). If the
ROK fails to address its concerns, the DPRK stated that: 1)
Those carrying contraband into the North will be sent back;
2) Those acting in violation of N-S agreements will be sent
back; 3) Those who ridicule or give things to North Korean
soldiers will be "deported"; 4) And that the DPRK cannot
guarantee the safety of any UNC personnel who approach the
MDL without prior notification. The ROK responded to the
North by saying it had done its best to discourage the
behaviors cited by the DPRK side, but that it cannot police
the lawful actions of its private citizens. As for the
actions of UNC personnel, Moon said he explained that the DMZ
area south of the MDL falls under the authority of the UNC,
and that UNCMAC has already taken appropriate steps to calm
the situation. The ROK pointed out to the North that the
DPRK was in violation of the military assurances it had
promised by refusing to negotiate on the N-S railroad
project, and by refusing to hold a second round of defense
ministerial talks. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Colonel Moon Seong-mook, Ph.D., Director of the North
Korea Policy Team at the ROK Ministry of National Defense met
with the POL-MIL Chief on October 4 to provide a readout on
the October 2, 2006 North-South Korean Military-to-Military
talks held at Panmunjom. Colonel Moon, who headed the South
Korean delegation to the talks, said he had expected a
positive change in attitude because the (North) Korean
Peoples Army (KPA) had initiated the request to meet, but
that he found "their attitude had not changed at all." Moon
reported that during the two hour meeting, the DPRK side
voiced three complaints.

-- The first involved "propaganda provocations" by private
South Korean religious groups that have sent balloons across
the DMZ that carry leaflets, and sometimes food and radios.

-- The second involved "activities" by South Korea tourists
visiting the Kaesong Industrial Complex and Kumgansan
Mountain Resort Area, such as the passing of contraband
(newspapers, food, etc.) to North Korean border guards and
tour guides.

-- The third was a demand for prior notification before any
UNC personnel (which the KPA consistently refers to as U.S.
Forces) come near the military demarcation line (MDL) within
the east or west Joint Security Area (JSA) along the DMZ.
They complained of alleged incidents in which UNC personnel
had "mocked" the North Korean guards by waving, taking
pictures of them, and the like.


3. (C) Colonel Moon said he had responded by stating that
the ROK government has observed the N-S 2004 agreement
regarding the elimination of propaganda along the DMZ. In
addition, he said the ROK had "openly demanded" the private
South Korean groups involved in launching the balloons halt
their activities because they serve to raise tensions along
the DMZ. Beyond that, Moon said he had explained that the
activities of these groups was not illegal under South Korean
law.


4. (C) Regarding the carrying of "contraband" by ROK
citizens who visit the North, Moon said he had pointed out to
the DPRK delegation that no agreement currently exists
between the military authorities of the two countries
governing the behavior of tourists. The ROKG has done its
best to educate its citizens on how to behave when visiting
the North, Moon had explained, but that "the culture of South
Korea is such that its citizens may from time-to-time bring
along things that North Korea doesn't like."


5. (C) With regard to the activity of UNC personnel in the
JSA, Colonel Moon said he explained that the DMZ area south
of the MDL falls under the authority of the United Nations
Command. He said the ROKG had discussed the issue with the
UNC after the DPRK had threatened last year to open fire on
anyone committing offensive activities near the MDL, adding
that UNCMAC had "taken appropriate actions and most of the
problematic activity had ceased."


6. (C) Moon reported that he in turn raised two points with
the KPA. First, he said the DPRK was in violation of the
military assurances it had given during inter-Korean talks by
refusing to negotiate on the North-South railroad project and
flood prevention efforts on the Injin River. Second, he
informed the DPRK side that it was failing to build
confidence by refusing to hold a second round of defense
ministerial talks. According to Moon, the DPRK delegation
responded to both concerns by stating that "until the ROK
makes an effort to resolve the dispute over the Northern
Limit Line, no other issues can be resolved." Before it can
agree to another defense ministerial, the South needs to
"create a suitable environment" of trust, the North added.


7. (C) The DPRK delegation then presented the South Korean
military delegation with four measures it will take (at an
unspecified point in the future) if the ROK fails to address
its concerns. It threatened that:

-- Individuals or vehicles carrying contraband into the North
will be stopped and sent back.
-- Individuals acting in violation of N-S agreements will be
sent back.
-- Those who ridicule, banter with, or give things to North
Korean soldiers within the JSA will be immediately "deported"
from the site.
-- The DPRK warned it cannot guarantee the safety of any UNC
personnel who approach the MDL without giving prior
notification to the North.
STANTON