Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SEOUL1078
2007-04-13 04:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:  

PRESIDENT ROH'S MEETING WITH RICHARDSON-PRINCIPI

Tags:  PGOV PREL MNUC KS KN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
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FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3858
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2323
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2428
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 7958
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP//
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001078 

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MNUC KS KN
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ROH'S MEETING WITH RICHARDSON-PRINCIPI
DELEGATION

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Bill Stanton. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001078

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NSC FOR WILDER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MNUC KS KN
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ROH'S MEETING WITH RICHARDSON-PRINCIPI
DELEGATION

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Bill Stanton. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: In an April 12 meeting with President Roh
Moo-hyun, New Mexico Governor Richardson and former Secretary
of Veteran's Affairs Anthony Principi said that the DPRK had
been cooperative in assisting the transfer of the remains of
servicemen thought to have died during the Korean War. The
Richardson-Principi delegation also came away with the
impression that North Korea was prepared to implement the
February 13 Initial Actions agreement, provided the Banco
Delta Asia (BDA) issues were resolved satisfactorily.
Calling the remains recovery mission a "noble endeavor,"
President Roh expressed deep appreciation to Richardson and
Principi for honoring those who perished during the Korean
War. Roh believed that such missions would help draw out the
DPRK, which was deeply isolated and suspicious of the outside
world. Roh also thanked A/S Hill for expending enormous
effort to bring about a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. Now
the responsibility for further progress, Roh sad, was
"squarely with North Korea." Roh speculated that perhaps the
lack of North Korean action since the U.S. decision to
unblock the DPRK's BDA accounts was due to internal problems.
Ultimately, North Korea had no choice but to join the rest
of world, Roh believed. END SUMMARY.

--------------
REMAINS RECOVERY: A NOBLE ENDEAVOR
--------------


2. (U) The Richardson-Principi delegation, in North Korea
April 8-11 to bring back the remains of servicemen, paid a
call on ROK President Roh Moo-hyun in Seoul on April 12. The
delegation was accompanied by visiting EAP Assistant
Secretary Hill and the Charge.

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3. (U) Roh said that it was good news that the delegation
had brought back the remains, because such operations had
been suspended since 2005. The high priority accorded by the
USG and the American people to recovering the remains of
those who had sacrificed for their nation was noble. The
rest of the world admired this very-American quality. This

was particularly true of the Richardson-Principi mission,
because, technically, the United States and North Korea were
still at war.


4. (U) Governor Richardson expressed the delegation's
appreciation for the hospitality and cooperation shown by the
ROKG to make their mission a success. The DPRK had also
helped greatly. The return of the remains was unconditional,
with no compensation. The DPRK side also provided a
dignified journey through the DMZ. Secretary Principi said
that he was honored to join this bipartisan mission, which
had enormous meaning and importance for the affected families.

--------------
SIX-PARTY TALKS
--------------


5. (C) Governor Richardson said that North Koreans remained
deeply isolated from and suspicious of the outside world.
They regarded China as domineering and unreliable, and Japan
as malignant. Still, North Koreans seemed to view South
Korea much more positively, especially compared to his
impressions in his previous visits. This was principally due
to President Roh's engagement policy. North Korea wanted to
deal with the United States and South Korea openly and
directly, not through China or anyone else. Richardson and
Principi assessed that the DPRK would re-engage in the
Six-Party Talks and meet the February 13 Initial Actions
commitments, provided that the BDA issue were resolved
satisfactorily.


6. (C) Roh said that Washington had shown determination in
trying to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through the
Six-Party Talks. Thanking A/S Hill for his enormous
diplomatic effort, Roh said that he knew that it was not easy
for the USG to make such decisions. A/S Hill responded that
the USG had made an important decision to support the
unblocking of the North Korea-related accounts in Banco Delta
Asia. Now, we were all waiting for a response from
Pyongyang, which had been frustratingly slow. This was not a
good sign for the whole process, A/S Hill said.


7. (C) Roh agreed that Washington had tried hard to resolve
the BDA issue; everyone knew that. Now the responsibility
was squarely with North Korea. Roh said that perhaps the
lack of North Korean action was due to internal difficulties.
In his experience, North Koreans wanted to win every
negotiation, and would declare victory at each one. Roh was,
therefore, a loser in every negotiation with the North. This
did not bother Roh, however, because ultimately North Korea
had no choice but to open itself and join the rest of the
world.


8. (C) Simply put, Roh said, North Korea could not survive
with nuclear weapons alone. In Hanoi, President Bush had
said the technical state of war on the Korean Peninsula
should end; the Armistice should be replaced by a peace
treaty. This was North Korea's opportunity and destiny.
Even the DPRK, which was hyper-suspicious, could not pass up
such an opportunity. This was why, Roh believed, the North
Koreans would soon resolve their own technical problems
related to the BDA funds and make progress in
denuclearization.


9. (U) President Roh again thanked the Richardson-Principi
delegation because its efforts furthered the cause of peace
on the Peninsula.


10. (U) The Richardson-Principi delegation did not have an
opportunity to clear this message.
STANTON