AMBASSADOR'S INITIAL CALL ON ROK DEFENSE MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 004233

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2016
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC KNNP KN KS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INITIAL CALL ON ROK DEFENSE MINISTER
KIM JANG-SOO

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: During the Ambassador's December 11 office
call on the new ROK Defense Minister, General Kim Jang-soo:

-- The Ambassador congratulated him on his elevation to head
the Ministry of National Defense and said he looked forward
to continued close consultations on U.S.-ROK Alliance issues.


-- Minister Kim voiced strong support for the Alliance and
vowed to work closely with the Embassy and USFK to further
its transformation. He asked the USG to be mindful of the
impact U.S. military transformation will have on the ROK
military.

-- He assured the Ambassador that despite a serious debate
within the National Assembly over withdrawal of ROK forces
from Iraq, the ROKG would extend its troop dispatch through

2007. The Ambassador thanked MND for its strong commitment
and praised the valuable work being done by its Zaytun unit
in Irbil.

-- They agreed on the importance of setting a firm date for
OPCON transfer. However, Minister Kim stressed that the ROK
needed to be prepared and ready for that responsibility. He
also cautioned that the decision on timing would be made by
political, not military leaders.

-- Minister Kim was optimistic the Jikdo air-to-surface
training range would be fully operational by February 2007
and claimed the Pilsung Range had been "plentifully
delegated" to USFK for its use in the interim.

-- He expressed concern USFK will downsize its forces on the
Peninsula as a result of U.S. dissatisfaction with the
2007-2009 SMA negotiation. He urged the USG to view the
agreement as a step toward the ROK assuming a more equal
share of the burdensharing cost.

-- The Ambassador encouraged fuller ROK participation in PSI
and welcomed the ROKG decision to join the Secure Freight
Initiative (SFI).

-- Minister Kim said he would like to visit Washington to
meet with the SECDEF as soon as possible after his
swearing-in ceremony. He also welcomed future visits by
Secretary Gates to the Republic of Korea. END SUMMARY.

SIPDIS


2. (C) On December 11, 2006, the Ambassador paid a visit on
the newly-installed ROK Minister of National Defense, General
Kim Jang-soo. Minister Kim noted that the Ambassador was the
first foreign official he had met since he was sworn into
office on November 24. The Ambassador congratulated him on
his selection to head MND and said he looked forward to
continued close consultations with the Ministry on U.S.-ROK
Alliance issues. The Ambassador noted General Kim was a
familiar face to American officials, owing to his previous
assignments as Deputy Commander of the U.S.-ROK Combined
Forces Command (2004-2005) and as ROK Army Chief of Staff
(2005-2006). We know the Ministry is in very good hands, the
Ambassador said.


3. (C) Defense Minister Kim thanked the Ambassador for his
comments. He cited several speeches the Ambassador had
recently delivered in support of the Alliance, saying he had
greatly appreciated his remarks. The Minister predicted his
own past experience working with USFK would have a positive
influence on the overall well-being of the U.S.-ROK Alliance.
He vowed to work closely with the Embassy and USFK to
further Alliance transformation.

ALLIANCE TRANSFORMATION
--------------


4. (C) Defense Minister Kim raised the issue of U.S.
military transformation, commenting that while he agreed with

the necessity of U.S. military changes, we needed to be
mindful of the impact it would have on the ROK armed forces.
He and the Ambassador agreed that transformation of both the
U.S. and ROK militaries was a win-win scenario. The
Ambassador said his optimism stemmed in part from the ROK's
ambitious 2020 Defense Reform Plan, which demonstrated the
South Korean Government's strong commitment to the further
strengthening of its own defense forces, and the raising of
its technological capabilities and level of readiness. He
also expressed appreciation for South Korea's willingness to
contribute to operations around the world, in Iraq,
Afghanistan and Lebanon, noting that the ROK was truly a
global partner.

IRAQ TROOP RENEWAL
--------------


5. (C) Minister Kim told the Ambassador the ROK was making
what he called "a conscientious effort to stand with the
United States on the world stage." However, he acknowledged
that many in the National Assembly and South Korean populace,
disagreed with the ROKG's plan to extend its Zaytun troop
dispatch to Irbil through 2007. Despite that strong
opposition, Minister Kim told the Ambassador that the ROKG
will "not even speak of withdrawing the troops." He
predicted there would be a reduction in ROK troop levels over
the next year, but assured the Ambassador that the ROK is
committed to retaining its presence in Irbil through 2007.
Kim added that in the course of the national debate, MND has
had to face the added difficulty of defending its request for
increases in its defense budget against questioning by the
National Assembly over Iraq and other expenditures.


6. (C) The Ambassador thanked MND for its continuing
commitment in Iraq. He praised the work of the Zaytun unit,
and the widely-acknowledged success of the technical
vocational training program it is operating in the northern
part of the country, and stressed how important it is that it
continue.

OPCON TRANSFER
--------------


7. (C) On the subject of the transfer of wartime operational
control (OPCON) to the ROK, the Ambassador stressed the need
to move ahead on implementation before the issue becomes
entangled in the politics of the 2007 ROK presidential race.
He said OPCON transfer is the right decision for the future
of the Alliance. He highlighted the need for the U.S. and
ROK to come to an agreement on a precise date for the
transfer, predicting that domestic political anxiety over the
issue would dissipate after a firm date has been set.


8. (C) Defense Minister Kim said he fully agreed, stating it
would be mutually beneficial for both countries to reach
consensus on a firm date. However, he also stressed the
importance of taking into consideration the preparations that
the ROK needed to put in place in order to be ready to take
over the responsibility for wartime operational control. He
further cautioned that while most of the work would be
carried out by U.S. and ROK military experts, the date for
OPCON transfer would be decided by the political, not the
military, leaders of both countries.

TRAINING RANGES
--------------


9. (C) The Ambassador expressed appreciation for the role
former Defense Minister Yoon had played in moving the Jikdo
air-to-surface training range toward completion. He asked
Minister Kim for his assistance in ensuring USFK had access
to adequate training facilities in the interim, given the
fact that winter weather conditions now appeared to be
delaying the completion of the Jikdo training facility.
Minister Kim thanked the U.S. side for its "common
understanding and common patience" over the issue. He said
he was optimistic that the range would be fully operational

by February 2007, barring very severe weather conditions, and
that the Pilsung Range had been "plentifully delegated" to
USFK for its use in the interim. Minister Kim said that if
USFK had any further training requirements, he would instruct
his Joint Chiefs of Staff to fully address them.

SMA
---


10. (C) The Ambassador and the Minister both acknowledged
that the outcome of the recently completed Special Measures
Agreement was not entirely satisfactory to the United States.
Kim said he nonetheless hoped the USG understood it as a
step toward the ROK assuming a more equal share of USFK's
non-personnel stationing costs. He expressed concern USFK
would downsize its forces on the Peninsula as a result of the
shortfall in the agreement, saying it was important for USFK
to maintain its current force level despite its
disappointment. The Ambassador replied that he too hoped
that changes in force structure would not be necessary, but
warned Minister Kim that adjustments might be needed. He
assured him, however, that any adjustments would be carried
out with no diminution of U.S. capabilities and no
diminishment of the U.S. commitment to the Alliance.
Minister Kim agreed it was extremely important that be the
case in light of the October North Korean nuclear test, and
the revived prospects for the Six-Party Talks later in
December.

PSI
---


11. (C) The Ambassador stressed the U.S. desire to work
closely with the ROK on Proliferation Security Initiative
(PSI) activities and full implementation of UNSCR 1718.
Minister Kim replied that the ROKG supported the "purpose and
principles" of PSI and would participate fully in 6 of the 8
PSI areas of cooperation. He added there was more good news
to be found in the ROKG's agreement to join the Secure
Freight Initiative (SFI).

TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON
--------------


12. (C) Defense Minister Kim stated that he would like to
visit Washington to meet with the SECDEF as soon as possible
after his swearing-in ceremony. He also welcomed any future
visits by Secretary Gates to the Republic of Korea. Minister
Kim said he looked forward to discussing U.S.-ROK Alliance
issues with the Secretary and pledged to the Ambassador that
he would do all he could to further strengthen U.S.-ROK
relations. "Coming directly from active duty, I may lack the
political finesse to be a good Minister," General Kim said,
"but rest assured I have the best of intentions toward our
Alliance."
VERSHBOW