ROKG SOLICITS U.S. VIEWS ON COMMERCIAL SALE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 003236

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2017
TAGS: KS MARR PARM PREL VE
SUBJECT: ROKG SOLICITS U.S. VIEWS ON COMMERCIAL SALE OF
VEHICLES TO VENEZUELAN MILITARY


Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun, Reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 3.


2. (C) On October 31, Park Chul-min, Director of the
Disarmament and Nonproliferation Division of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) shared information
regarding the pending sale of up to 3000 vehicles to the
Venezuelan military by the ROK company Daewoo International.
Park said the 3000 vehicles would consist of 2.5 and 5 ton
cargo trucks, 1.25 and 2.5 shop vans, 5 ton wreckers, and
1.25 ton ambulances. The vehicles would be sold over the
period 2008 to 2013 and would be used by the Venezuelan
military, and possibly border guards. Unaware of any
international or U.S. legal requirements limiting such a
sale, Park said the ROKG viewed it as a simple commercial
transaction. However, given known USG concerns vis-a-vis
arms transactions by the Chavez regime in Venezuela and the
ROKG's continued commitment to share export information with
the U.S. in all potentially sensitive cases, Park thought it
prudent to inform the U.S. Park said the ROKG intended to
permit the transaction to proceed after one week, unless the
U.S. was aware of any U.S. or international legal
requirements that would impact the sale. Park requested that
the U.S. respond with any further information or concerns no
later than November 6.


3. (C) Post requests that Department advise whether the USG
has any concerns or is aware of any legal restrictions on the
proposed vehicle sale so that Post may respond to MOFAT
before their requested deadline of November 6.
VERSHBOW