FORMER PRIME MINISTER KIM JONG-PIL'S LAST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 004039

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL ABLD KS KN
SUBJECT: FORMER PRIME MINISTER KIM JONG-PIL'S LAST
POLITICAL STAND: HELP THE GNP WIN IN 2007

Classified By: Amb. Alexander Vershbow. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Former Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil told the
Ambassador on November 16 that U.S.-ROK relations were
paramount and that the administration had to change in 2007.
Kim said he would support the GNP candidate, whoever that may
be, provided that he/she agreed to "sweep out the debris" of
the Roh administration and take a reasonable but hard line
toward North Korea. Kim, 80 years old, said this would be
his last public service to the country. END SUMMARY.

Korea's debt to the U.S.
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2. (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador on November 16, Kim
Jong-pil spoke at length about the importance of the U.S.-ROK
alliance and stressed that none of the prosperity Koreans
enjoyed today would have been possible without U.S.
assistance. Even the trees on Namsan Mountain in central
Seoul were there only because of U.S. assistance. Kim was
highly critical of President Roh, enumerating his faults and
shortcomings. Still, Kim said he was confident that the
five-year period of the Roh administration would simply be a
"comma" in the continued progress of Korea. With a Grand
National Party (GNP) president in power starting in February
2008, U.S.-ROK relations would improve. To assure a GNP
president, Kim would influence the votes of Chungcheong, his
hometown province. In addition to reaffirming strong
relations with the U.S., the next ROK president should work
to improve relations with Japan and be wise in relations with
China, Kim said.

North Korea
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3. (C) Turning to North Korean issues, Kim said that, if
necessary, the United States should consider using force to
seek change. North Korea was like a whiny child; if not
scolded strongly, it would not change its ways. The Six
Party Talks would not lead to anything but buying time for
Kim Jong-il to further develop his nuclear program, Kim
noted. The Ambassador said that after North Korea's October
9 nuclear test, it was necessary to be firm toward North
Korea. The United States was working with China and all of
North Korea's neighbors to forge a unified approach. This
was essential if the international community was to succeed
in denuclearizing North Korea, the Ambassador said.


2007 Presidential Elections
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4. (C) Kim said he would support the GNP in the presidential
election next year. The GNP candidate must be ready to sweep
out the debris of the Roh government; work hard to improve
U.S.-ROK relations; be prepared to threaten North Korea with
force; and, finally, lift the living standards of South
Koreans. Historically, his home Chungcheong Province had
provided the swing votes, and 2007 would be the same, he
said. There would be three to four candidates for president
in 2007, but the GNP candidate was the only real option. Kim
said that the Uri Party would remain intact through next
year's presidential elections despite all the talks of party
realignment.

Japan
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5. (C) On Japan, a country with which Kim has strong
connections and ties (he negotiated the 1965 normalization of
relations),the former prime minister said that he told PM
Abe this summer not to discuss whether he would visit the
Yasukuni Shrine in order to defuse regional tensions and
improve relations with the ROK and China. The Ambassador
said that improved ROK-Japan relations were key to security
and prosperity in the region and that if the two countries,
along with the U.S., could have a truly strong relationship,
the three countries could provide a security foundation for
all of Asia. Kim predicted that Abe would not go to Yasukuni
and said the new Japanese prime minister would rely on his
cabinet members to make both conservative and progressive
statements while he toed the center.


Old Boys Summit
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6. (C) Kim described an "Old Boys Summit" he would attend in
March, 2007 that would include former leaders from Korea,
Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Philippines and
Japan. Former Japanese PM Nakasone founded the group and
Japan would host the first summit next year in Fukuoka, where
Kim would give the keynote address. The former leaders will
convene annually to discuss solutions to various issues
facing Asia.

Comment
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7. (C) Kim Jong-pil is the only one of the "Three Kims" who
did not become president of South Korea. The closest aide to
Park Chung-hee, JP, as he is widely known, was at the center
of South Korean politics and government over the past several
decades. However, his influence is very marginal now, and
his former title of "King-maker," because he largely
controlled the central Chungcheong region, is no longer
valid, despite his claims.
VERSHBOW