ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION OF USFK BASES -- ISSUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000592

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR VICTOR CHA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2021
TAGS: PREL MARR SENV KS
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION OF USFK BASES -- ISSUE
FOR PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR SONG

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


1. (U) This is an action request.


2. (C) The return of closed U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) bases
to the ROK has been delayed by an impasse over environmental
remediation. The delay is slowing down progress on base
relocation/consolidation, a centerpiece of the ongoing
realignment of our military presence on the Peninsula. It is
also causing USFK to expend hundreds of thousands of dollars
a month to maintain security on the vacated bases. In an
effort to accommodate ROK concerns and sensitivities, USFK
proposed a compromise solution late last month. Despite
earlier indications that the proposal would be accepted, the
ROKG recently has asked the U.S. to consider "technical
adjustments" to the U.S. proposal. In fact, however, the
ROKG's "technical adjustments" would amount to a
substantively different undertaking. We have made clear to
the ROKG that the proposal could not be renegotiated and have
urged the ROKG to settle the issue quickly. The Ambassador
and USFK Commander General Bell on February 22 conveyed this
message to Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon and Blue House NSA
Song Min-soon (septel),and DUSD Lawless did so with a ROK
interagency delegation during the last round of Security
Policy Initiative talks last week.


3. (C) Citing domestic political considerations including the
upcoming May 31 local elections, NGO interest and interagency
wrangling, our MOFAT and Blue House interlocutors have
indicated that the ROKG will need more time to work the
issue. However, we believe it is important to at least reach
an agreement in principle on the latest U.S. proposal,
deferring public announcements and technical discussions to a
later point if/as necessary. Presidential Secretary Song
Min-soon, who plays a critical role on this issue, will be in
Washington February 23-24 for meetings with NSA Hadley and
other senior officials. We recommend NSA Hadley and others
reinforce our message to Song, drawing on the following
talking points:

-- Extremely concerned about the impasse over environmental
remediation of closed USFK bases. The impasse is delaying
our return of valuable land to the Korean people. It is also
slowing progress on our base relocation and consolidation, a
core element of the major realignment effort initiated under
the Future of the Alliance Initiative. Need to settle the
issue quickly.

-- As Ambassador Vershbow and General Bell made clear to you
earlier this week, the last U.S. proposal represents a
good-faith effort by the U.S. to accommodate ROK concerns and
goes well beyond requirements under the SOFA. It is our best
and final offer. We urge the ROKG to accept the proposal.

-- We have to find a way forward quickly. If important
considerations require you to delay public announcement or
detailed technical discussions until later, we should at
least reach an agreement in principle on our proposal now so
that we can remove this difficult issue from our list of
problems.


4. (U) This message has been coordinated with USFK.
VERSHBOW