Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SEOUL1352
2007-05-08 05:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:  

SOUTH KOREA NOT CONSIDERING PARTICIPATION IN LIBYAN NUCLEAR

Tags:  TRGY ENRG KNNP KS LY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8287
PP RUEHTRO
DE RUEHUL #1352 1280512
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080512Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4368
INFO RUEHTRO/USLO TRIPOLI
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0084
UNCLAS SEOUL 001352 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ENA, ISN/NESS, AND EAP/K

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TRGY ENRG KNNP KS LY
SUBJECT: SOUTH KOREA NOT CONSIDERING PARTICIPATION IN LIBYAN NUCLEAR
POWER PROJECT


UNCLAS SEOUL 001352

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ENA, ISN/NESS, AND EAP/K

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TRGY ENRG KNNP KS LY
SUBJECT: SOUTH KOREA NOT CONSIDERING PARTICIPATION IN LIBYAN NUCLEAR
POWER PROJECT



1. (SBU) Summary: An April 14 Financial Times article quoted a
Libyan official as saying that Libya was in discussions with South
Korea and other countries about a nuclear power plant project. On
May 7, Embassy received a letter from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) saying that Korea was concerned that the
report may have sent the wrong message to Korea's U.S. ally. In
fact, the letter said, Libya had approached Korea about cooperation
on nuclear power, but Korea concluded that such cooperation would be
premature. Korea prefers to start any cooperation with Libya more
gradually with nuclear medicine or joint studies. Post had
previously heard that Korea had held conversations with Indonesia
and Vietnam about potential cooperation on nuclear energy, but this
was the first we had heard about feelers from Libya. End summary.


2. (U) The Financial Times article, headlined "Libya to Get Nuclear
Power Plant," says that Libya is pushing ahead with plans to build a
civilian nuclear power plant with the hope that Western nations will
provide technical and financial assistance. Quoting Matoug Matoug,
Secretary-General of the General Peoples Committee on manpower,

SIPDIS
employment and training (also identified as former head of Libya's
nuclear program),the article says that Libya has been in
discussions about the project with U.S., Russian, French, Argentine
and South Korean officials. "We will have the Koreans pretty soon,
the Russians are coming, also the French, we are working on talking
with them," Matoug reportedly said.


3. (SBU) On May 7, ESTH Chief received a letter dated May 2, signed
by Park Noh-wan, Director of the Economic Security Division,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT). Following is the
text of the letter:

Begin text:

Regarding the issue of Korea's cooperation with Libya in the field
of nuclear energy, I would like to inform you that the Korean
government is not considering participation in the nuclear power
plant program that the Libyan government is trying to set up.

As you many have seen in the Financial Times dated April 14, Mr.
Matoug, Secretary-General of the General Peoples Committee of
Manpower, Employment and Training, stated in an interview that the
Libyan government had been in discussion about the nuclear power
plant project with South Korea and added that South Korea would join
the project pretty soon. The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade is concerned that the contents of this interview may have sent
the wrong message to the United States, a close political and
economic ally of the Republic of Korea.

In fact, last year Libya did propose to Korea cooperation in the
nuclear sector, including on the SMART project and nuclear power
plant construction. After analyzing relevant agency opinions and
Libya's current situation, the Ministry concluded that it would be
premature to take part in the Libyan nuclear power plant project or
negotiate an agreement of nuclear cooperation and that rather, it
would be better to cooperate gradually starting from lower stages
such as nuclear medicine or joint studies.

I hope the above explanation will clarify our stance on this matter
for you and your government. In addition, we would welcome any
requests for further discussion on this issue.

On behalf of the Ministry, I would like to respectfully ask for your
continued assistance and support in further advancing the
cooperative relations between our two countries in nuclear energy
and other related areas.

End text.


4. (U) Note: SMART stands for "System-Integrated Modular Advanced
Reactor," a small (330MW) pressurized water reactor with integral
steam generators that Korea has been developing for applications
such as seawater desalination and small-scale electricity
generation. End note.


5. (SBU) Comment: Post had previously heard that Korea had held
conversations with Indonesia and Vietnam about potential cooperation
on nuclear power, but this the first we have heard about Libyan
feelers in this area. End comment.


6. (U) Minimize considered.
VERSHBOW