ROKG INVESTIGATING POTENTIAL SALE OF MOBILE PHONE

S E C R E T SEOUL 000569 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2017 TAGS: PREL PARM ETTC KS IR SUBJECT: ROKG INVESTIGATING POTENTIAL SALE OF MOBILE PHONE JAMMERS REF: A. STATE 22687 ¶B. SEOUL 499 ¶C. SEOUL 447 Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (S) In a February 27 meeting with Park Chul-min, MOFAT's Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Division Director, Deputy POL M/C discussed ref a points urging Seoul to investigate whether a ROK firm was seeking to transfer mobile phone jammers to Iran. Park said MOFAT, upon receiving the points the previous day, had quickly encouraged relevant ROKG authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, and warned them that the case was potentially related to the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act. The investigation would take time, but he sought to reassure the USG that Seoul took the issue very seriously. He undertook to contact the Embassy when he acquired more information. ¶2. (S) Park insisted that the ROKG had cooperated fully with recent USG demarches aimed to prevent proliferation. MOFAT, for example, had intervened to recommend that Dr, Choi Soon-dal of the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) not travel to Iran in light of UNSCR 1737 (refs b and c). Speaking personally, Park said that he was sensitive to the perception that perhaps Washington did not recognize the steps that Seoul had already taken. VERSHBOW