ROKG COMMENTS ON REVISED U.S. ARF PROPOSALS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001413 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/RSP KEVIN SHEIVES E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2017 TAGS: PREL ARF KNNP PTER KS SUBJECT: ROKG COMMENTS ON REVISED U.S. ARF PROPOSALS REF: STATE 64134 Classified By: A/POL Brian D. McFeeters. Reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) On May 11, poloff delivered reftel demarche to Kim Jong-min of the Security Policy Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT). Kim said the revised U.S. proposals were appreciated, but noted that ROKG comments on previous drafts had just been sent to the ROK representative at the EU for a May 11 meeting in Brussels. However, Kim undertook to forward the revised U.S. proposals to Brussels today. Kim told poloff the ROKG participants at the May 25 Senior Officials Meeting in Manila would be Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Shim Yoon-joe, Security Policy Division Director Kim Chang-sik, and himself. ¶2. (C) On the ISM Working Group proposal, Kim noted that ROKG is supportive of the concept as they would like to see the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) evolve into a more action-oriented mechanism for security cooperation. Kim said that the proposal for the pilot Disaster Relief Working Group made a lot of sense and that he believes the idea will gain general support as most of the prospective participants are ready to take action in the Disaster Relief field. Kim said that the inclusion of ARF Expert and Eminent Persons would also be welcomed. The ROKG intends to support the UNSCR 1540 Implementation Statement at the next Inter-sessional Support Group, Kim said. Kim undertook to consult with the relevant offices on the Nonproliferation ISM and provide the ROKG response at a later date. VERSHBOW