Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL4375
2006-12-26 07:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
NORTH-SOUTH AIR ROUTE REOPENS FOR NGO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #4375 3600759 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 260759Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2105 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1808 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 7754 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1908 RUALSFJ/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR PRIORITY
UNCLAS SEOUL 004375
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREF PGOV KS KN
SUBJECT: NORTH-SOUTH AIR ROUTE REOPENS FOR NGO
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS SEOUL 004375
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREF PGOV KS KN
SUBJECT: NORTH-SOUTH AIR ROUTE REOPENS FOR NGO
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) The air route between Pyongyang and Seoul opened
December 18 for the first time since the October 9 nuclear
test. Members of the Korean Sharing Movement, an NGO engaged
in humanitarian work in the DPRK, visited Pyongyang to
observe the opening of a new hospital wing. The air route is
typically used several times a month to facilitate NGO and
official travel between the ROK and DPRK. We understand that
the route has on occasion been used to deliver commodities,
such as mushrooms. END SUMMARY.
NGO VISIT TO PYONGYANG
--------------
2. (SBU) Ninety members of the Korean Sharing Movement
(KSM),which distributes food, medical and other humanitarian
assistance, to the DPRK visited Pyongyang by air on December
18. KSM Secretary General Lee Jong-soo told us on December
26 that the group met with North Korean medical doctors,
attended seminars, and participated in a ceremony to open a
neurosurgery-respiratory ward at the North's Red Cross
hospital. Lee said that KSM has provided medical equipment
and assistance to the hospital since 2003 and that North
Korean officials were cooperative in arranging the visit and
appreciative of the assistance. The group returned to Seoul
on December 21.
USE OF SEOUL - PYONGYANG AIR ROUTE
--------------
3. (SBU) The Ministry of Unification briefed us on December
18 that the air travel was approved because its purpose was
humanitarian and not in contravention of UNSCR 1718. Later
that day, Pol M/C asked MOFAT Director General for North
America Cho Tae-yong to provide further information regarding
these flights.
4. (SBU) Responding through the Ministry of Unification on
December 22, the ROKG said that there have been 42 round-trip
flights between Seoul and Pyongyang between January 1 and
October 8, 2006. The DPRK's Kyoro Air flew 32 of the flights
while the ROK's Korean Air flew the remaining 10. Deputy
Director of the MOU International Cooperation and Peace Team
Kim Young-sil explained that the flights facilitated 24
inter-Korean social and cultural exchanges, four inter-Korean
ministerial talks, six inter-Korean economic talks, and 8
deliveries of North Korean pine mushrooms. UNCMAC records
reflect that North Korea delivered 39 tons of pine nut
mushrooms to South Korea in September 2006.
5. (SBU) According to MOU, customs and security officers
inspect the passengers, personal baggage, and cargo pursuant
to the Law on Air Flights, Air Flight Safety and Security.
Customs officers use x-ray equipment to inspect for
weapons-related items and explosives at entry and departure.
VERSHBOW
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREF PGOV KS KN
SUBJECT: NORTH-SOUTH AIR ROUTE REOPENS FOR NGO
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) The air route between Pyongyang and Seoul opened
December 18 for the first time since the October 9 nuclear
test. Members of the Korean Sharing Movement, an NGO engaged
in humanitarian work in the DPRK, visited Pyongyang to
observe the opening of a new hospital wing. The air route is
typically used several times a month to facilitate NGO and
official travel between the ROK and DPRK. We understand that
the route has on occasion been used to deliver commodities,
such as mushrooms. END SUMMARY.
NGO VISIT TO PYONGYANG
--------------
2. (SBU) Ninety members of the Korean Sharing Movement
(KSM),which distributes food, medical and other humanitarian
assistance, to the DPRK visited Pyongyang by air on December
18. KSM Secretary General Lee Jong-soo told us on December
26 that the group met with North Korean medical doctors,
attended seminars, and participated in a ceremony to open a
neurosurgery-respiratory ward at the North's Red Cross
hospital. Lee said that KSM has provided medical equipment
and assistance to the hospital since 2003 and that North
Korean officials were cooperative in arranging the visit and
appreciative of the assistance. The group returned to Seoul
on December 21.
USE OF SEOUL - PYONGYANG AIR ROUTE
--------------
3. (SBU) The Ministry of Unification briefed us on December
18 that the air travel was approved because its purpose was
humanitarian and not in contravention of UNSCR 1718. Later
that day, Pol M/C asked MOFAT Director General for North
America Cho Tae-yong to provide further information regarding
these flights.
4. (SBU) Responding through the Ministry of Unification on
December 22, the ROKG said that there have been 42 round-trip
flights between Seoul and Pyongyang between January 1 and
October 8, 2006. The DPRK's Kyoro Air flew 32 of the flights
while the ROK's Korean Air flew the remaining 10. Deputy
Director of the MOU International Cooperation and Peace Team
Kim Young-sil explained that the flights facilitated 24
inter-Korean social and cultural exchanges, four inter-Korean
ministerial talks, six inter-Korean economic talks, and 8
deliveries of North Korean pine mushrooms. UNCMAC records
reflect that North Korea delivered 39 tons of pine nut
mushrooms to South Korea in September 2006.
5. (SBU) According to MOU, customs and security officers
inspect the passengers, personal baggage, and cargo pursuant
to the Law on Air Flights, Air Flight Safety and Security.
Customs officers use x-ray equipment to inspect for
weapons-related items and explosives at entry and departure.
VERSHBOW