MOFAT SAYS ROK PLANNING MORE ASSISTANCE TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001434 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/K STATE FOR EUR/RPM E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2018 TAGS: MARR MASS PREL PTER KS AF SUBJECT: MOFAT SAYS ROK PLANNING MORE ASSISTANCE TO AFGHANISTAN Classified By: Acting POL M/C Brian McFeeters, Reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) POL-MIL Chief met on July 17 with Director Kim Yong-hyon of the ROK-U.S. Security Policy Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) to receive new information on ROKG internal decisions regarding additional South Korean contributions in Afghanistan. Director Kim stated that the ROKG is dedicated to continuing their policy of contributing to the stabilization of Afghanistan. Towards that end, the ROKG pledged $30 million at the Paris donors conference and is also planning to expand its current Korean Medical and Vocational Training Team (KMVTT) at Bagram air base. The medical clinic at the KMVTT re-opened on June 30 and two additional vocational trainers are due to be sent to the KMVTT in the future. ¶2. (C) Director Kim went on to identify three new areas he said the ROKG is looking at in regards to increasing its participation in the stabilization and reconstruction of Afghanistan. The first is expansion of the existing vocational training mission and eventual construction of a vocational training center at the Bagram KMVTT site. To begin with the Korean trainers plan to operate out of the cafeteria previously used by the ROK troops stationed at Bagram last year. Once local training needs have been identified, a "significant expansion" of the vocational training program and facility is likely, Kim said. ¶3. (C) The second new contribution being considered is the provision of equipment to the Afghan National Police. He requested U.S. assistance in identifying a list of the equipment that is most needed. ¶4. (C) Finally, Director Kim informed us that the ROKG had made an interagency decision to train Afghan National Police in Seoul, rather than attempting to do so in Afghanistan due to the fear of casualties and the lack of adequate security for ROK personnel operating in Afghanistan. Kim cited the high potential for significant domestic political fallout if Koreans were to be put in harm's way in Afghanistan as the reason for ROKG reticence. Pressed on the idea of sending police trainers to Afghanistan Kim replied that the ROKG had not entirely ruled out the idea, but had chosen to begin with a Seoul-based training program. ¶5. (C) Throughout the course of the meeting Director Kim conveyed the ROK's strong desire for close consultations with the USG and GOA to identify the kind of vocational training, police training and police equipment that would be most useful on the ground. Questioned as to whether or not the ROKG still planned to send a survey team to Afghanistan, Director Kim stated they had no current plan in place to do so. POL-MIL Chief pointed out that while the USG would always be happy to provide advice in answer to the ROKG's questions, the best way for the ROKG to secure that information would be to conduct an on-site survey by appropriate South Koran personnel who could engage directly with the Afghan National Police and other relevant officials in Afghanistan. VERSHBOW