Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SEOUL1988
2008-10-09 02:30:00
SECRET
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
ROKG REACTION ON IRISL ANSWERS AND DEMARCHE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #1988 2830230 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 090230Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1895 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4828 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
S E C R E T SEOUL 001988
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN/CPI -- KEVIN MCGEEHAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2023
TAGS: ECON EFIN KNNP PARM PTER IR KS
SUBJECT: ROKG REACTION ON IRISL ANSWERS AND DEMARCHE
REF: A. STATE 104496
B. STATE 103737
Classified By: Economic Minister Counselor Andrew Quinn
Reasons: 1.4(B) and (D).
S E C R E T SEOUL 001988
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN/CPI -- KEVIN MCGEEHAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2023
TAGS: ECON EFIN KNNP PARM PTER IR KS
SUBJECT: ROKG REACTION ON IRISL ANSWERS AND DEMARCHE
REF: A. STATE 104496
B. STATE 103737
Classified By: Economic Minister Counselor Andrew Quinn
Reasons: 1.4(B) and (D).
1. (S) Deputy Econ Counselor met with MOFAT officials
Sun-hwan Lee (Middle East Division) and Si-jon Song (North
America Division) on October 6 to review Ref A IRISL demarche
and to present Ref B responses to ROKG questions concerning
the implications of the U.S. designation of IRISL.
2. (S) Lee and Song were appreciative of the clarifications
provided. Lee stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
was working within the Korean government to determine the
best response. He said that a consensus had emerged that
sanctions against a company such as IRISL could only be
effective if they were enforced broadly. Lee amplified by
noting that Korean companies could suffer serious
consequences in future competition for contracts not only in
Iran butmore broadly in the Middle East if they were seen as
likely to impose sanctions at U.S. request when Chinese,
Indian, or other firms were not.
3. (S) After reviewing the wording to the U.S. response to
the question, "What are the risks to Korean firms that
continue to deal with IRISL in the absence of a
UN-designation of the firm?," Lee asked directly if this
could be interpreted to mean that the "mere export of vessels
by a firm would trigger the potential use of E.O. 13382."
Post promised to convey this request for greater clarity to
Washington.
STEPHENS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN/CPI -- KEVIN MCGEEHAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2023
TAGS: ECON EFIN KNNP PARM PTER IR KS
SUBJECT: ROKG REACTION ON IRISL ANSWERS AND DEMARCHE
REF: A. STATE 104496
B. STATE 103737
Classified By: Economic Minister Counselor Andrew Quinn
Reasons: 1.4(B) and (D).
1. (S) Deputy Econ Counselor met with MOFAT officials
Sun-hwan Lee (Middle East Division) and Si-jon Song (North
America Division) on October 6 to review Ref A IRISL demarche
and to present Ref B responses to ROKG questions concerning
the implications of the U.S. designation of IRISL.
2. (S) Lee and Song were appreciative of the clarifications
provided. Lee stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
was working within the Korean government to determine the
best response. He said that a consensus had emerged that
sanctions against a company such as IRISL could only be
effective if they were enforced broadly. Lee amplified by
noting that Korean companies could suffer serious
consequences in future competition for contracts not only in
Iran butmore broadly in the Middle East if they were seen as
likely to impose sanctions at U.S. request when Chinese,
Indian, or other firms were not.
3. (S) After reviewing the wording to the U.S. response to
the question, "What are the risks to Korean firms that
continue to deal with IRISL in the absence of a
UN-designation of the firm?," Lee asked directly if this
could be interpreted to mean that the "mere export of vessels
by a firm would trigger the potential use of E.O. 13382."
Post promised to convey this request for greater clarity to
Washington.
STEPHENS