ROKG REQUESTS ASSISTANCE WITH NATO TRANSITION IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000973 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2017 TAGS: KS PARM PREL MARR MOPS SUBJECT: ROKG REQUESTS ASSISTANCE WITH NATO TRANSITION IN AFGHANISTAN Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) On April 2, POL-MIL Chief met with Lee Jeong-kyu, Director of North America Division III of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) to discuss ROKG concerns over additional NATO requirements for the transition of ROK troops to NATO/ International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Referring to the letter the ROK had sent to NATO at the request of the USG on transitioning its forces under ISAF, Director Lee stated that what the ROK thought was an administrative measure has now turned into a NATO request for the ROKG to sign several agreements, including a Participation Agreement, Financial Agreement, Information Security Agreement, and Code of Conduct. Lee expressed concerns over these additional requirements, noting that the agreement to transition ROK troops had been a difficult political decision. Lee stated that it will require two to three months to complete internal ROKG considerations of the four additional government-to-government agreements. Pointing out that the ROK troops are scheduled to return home in less than nine months (end of 2007),Director Lee questioned whether the agreements were necessary. ¶2. (C) Lee also conveyed that MND had experienced some difficulties with getting access to information on the ground in Afghanistan since the ROK transitioned its forces under NATO command in February 2007. He requested restoration of the level and quality of U.S. assistance provided to the ROK forces in Afghanistan prior to their transition under ISAF. VERSHBOW