NOGUN-RI MEMORIAL FUNDING TO EXPIRE SEPTEMBER 30,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000646 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2015 TAGS: PREL MARR KS SUBJECT: NOGUN-RI MEMORIAL FUNDING TO EXPIRE SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 REF: SEOUL 00762 Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. ¶2. (C) During a February 27 discussion, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers informed post that the funds allocated for the construction of the Nogun-ri memorial monument will expire on September 30, 2006, and that an extension of funding is probably not possible. According to the Corps, an agreement on the memorial would have to be reached by the end of March to allow sufficient time for construction and payment to the contractor before the expiration of funding. However, this seems highly unlikely given the continuing impasse over the design of the monument. Although a contract was awarded and the design work was completed by early 2002, disagreements regarding the design have prevented construction. Specifically, the USG and representatives of the Nogun-ri citizen's group have disagreed regarding the monument's proposed inscription. The citizen's group has insisted that the inscription explicitly identify the U.S. military as being responsible for the deaths of an undetermined number of civilians in the area surrounding the village of Nogun-ri during the opening days of the Korean War. The USG has explained repeatedly that it would be more appropriate for the monument to recognize all civilian casualties of the Korean War. ¶3. (C) When informed of the impending expiration of funding, MOFAT officials asked whether an extension of the funding, for at least one additional year, was possible. At the same time, however, they acknowledged that a change in the Nogun-ri group's position was unlikely in the near future. ¶4. (C) Action request: Please confirm the status of funding for the monument and whether it can be extended beyond the end of this fiscal year. VERSHBOW