TIMING OF ROKG DELEGATION TO UNGA UNDETERMINED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002253 SIPDIS SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO IO/PPC (BATLLE),USUN (MCBRIDE),EAO/RSP (ANTWEILER, KURZBAUER),AND NSC (MCDONALD) E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2017 TAGS: PREL OVIP ITRA KSEP UNGA KS SUBJECT: TIMING OF ROKG DELEGATION TO UNGA UNDETERMINED REF: STATE 101170 Classified By: A/DCM Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) On July 25, Lee Kyung-chul, Deputy Director of the UN Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade told poloff that President Roh Moo-hyun intended to participate in the UNGA General Debate, with an address tentatively set for September 25. However, the timing of his trip was expected to be coordinated to accommodate a potential a summit with President Bush. In addition to other undetermined officials, Foreign Minister Song Min-soon would probably accompany President Roh to the UNGA General Debate. ¶2. (C) Following is the data provided by the Foreign Ministry in the reftel format requested: ¶A. Roh Moo-hyun, President, planning to attend UNGA; -- Arrival and departure dates to and from New York and other locations remain to be determined due to a possible U.S.-ROK summit; -- President Roh's spouse, Kwon Yang-sook, is expected to accompany his visit; -- President Roh's meetings would require English interpretation. ¶B. Song Min-soon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, planning to attend UNGA; -- Arrival and departure dates to and from New York and other locations remain to be determined due to a possible U.S.-ROK summit; -- FM Song's spouse attendance has yet to be determined; -- FM Song speaks English and would not require English interpretation. ¶C. Attendance of other VIPs and Foreign Ministry officials responsible for IO affairs has yet to be determined. STANTON