MOFAT PREVIEWS ROH MOO-HYUN'S MARCH 3 REMARKS FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000658 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR CHA E.O. 12958: DECL: AFTER KOREAN REUNIFICATION TAGS: PREL MNUC MARR KN KS SUBJECT: MOFAT PREVIEWS ROH MOO-HYUN'S MARCH 3 REMARKS FOR KOREA MILITARY ACADEMY COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY Classified By: POL M/C JOSEPH Y. YUN. REASONS 1.4 (B, D). ¶1. (C) In a March 2 meeting with poloff, North America Division 1 Director Hahn Choong-hee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) previewed remarks to be delivered by President Roh Moo-hyun at the Korea Military Academy's March 3 commencement ceremony. According to Hahn, Roh will provide an overview of the ROK's security policy, stress the importance of enhancing South Korea's military capabilities, and underscore the robust and strong state of the U.S.-ROK alliance. ¶2. (C) Hahn said Roh will highlight Seoul's fundamental security objectives of realizing a more independent, self-reliant national defense; stepping up its traditional alliance diplomacy; and reducing tensions with North Korea by exploring more military confidence-building measures, as well as economic cooperation between the Koreas. The ROK would manage the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully without escalating tensions. To do so, Seoul would actively work toward implementing the September 19 joint statement of principles, while engaging with the other parties on establishing a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. ¶3. (C) Hahn said Roh will emphasize that the ROKG planned to improve the ROK's military capabilities by investing in advanced equipment and grooming elite forces for difficult missions. He will also note the overall strength of the bilateral alliance between the United States and Korea, highlighting as key accomplishments implementing USFK realignment and relocation of the Yongsan Garrison, and reaching a common understanding with the United States on strategic flexibility. Roh will add that successfully negotiating an agreement with Washington on transferring wartime operational command to Seoul would allow even greater security cooperation between the two governments. Moreover, the ROK would pursue the establishment of multilateral security cooperation in Northeast Asia in step with developments in the U.S.-ROK alliance. VERSHBOW