Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SEOUL2155
2008-11-04 06:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
ROK SEEKS U.S. VIEW ON KOREA-JAPAN-CHINA DEFENSE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #2155 3090646 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 040646Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2196 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 4921 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 8779 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 5028 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI PRIORITY 2846 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA CC SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RUACAAA/COMUSKOREA INTEL SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J-5// PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP// PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002155
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2018
TAGS: PINS PREL MARR KS JA CH
SUBJECT: ROK SEEKS U.S. VIEW ON KOREA-JAPAN-CHINA DEFENSE
TRILATERALS
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR JOSEPH YUN. REASONS 1.4 (b
/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002155
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2018
TAGS: PINS PREL MARR KS JA CH
SUBJECT: ROK SEEKS U.S. VIEW ON KOREA-JAPAN-CHINA DEFENSE
TRILATERALS
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR JOSEPH YUN. REASONS 1.4 (b
/d)
1. (C) On November 3, MOFAT ROK-US Security Cooperation
Director Kim Yong-hyon demarched the POL-MIL chief on a South
Korean proposal to hold ROK-Japan-China defense trilateral
meetings in 2009. Kim explained that the ROK planned to
discuss the idea with the Japanese at the ROK-Japan bilateral
security consultation meeting on November 13.
Simultaneously, the ROK would raise it with the Chinese
through diplomatic channels. If all three governments agree,
a proposal to hold a "ROK-Japan-China Trilateral Defense
Dialogue" would be put on the agenda as a deliverable for the
ROK-Japan-China leaders summit meeting scheduled to take
place in Fukuoka, Japan on December 14. Kim added that the
idea would be for the leaders of those three neighboring
countries to point to the announcement of this new dialogue
as a positive example of enhanced cooperation in Northeast
Asia.
2. (C) Kim went on to explain that the ROKG intends to hold
the dialogue one rank below the level of the U.S.-ROK-Japan
Defense Trilateral Talks taking place in Washington this
week; this probably means at the level of office directors.
He said the agenda for the ROK-Japan-China defense trilat
would be limited to the topics of disaster relief,
humanitarian relief and PKO activities. He assured that
agenda would not outpace the U.S.-Japan-ROK defense trilats,
pointing out that the PRC would very likely approach the
initiative with great caution.
3. (C) ACTION REQUEST: MOFAT wanted to alert the USG in
advance so they have time to receive U.S. views on the idea
before ROK officials meet with the Japanese and discuss it
with the Chinese next week. Embassy therefore requests the
Department's guidance by November 11.
4. (C) COMMENT: While we should urge the ROK and Japan to,
first and foremost, increase their level of security
cooperation with each other through this year's revived
U.S.-Japan-ROK Trilateral Defense Talks, we also believe we
should welcome the Korean proposal for the start of a
ROK-Japan-China trilateral defense dialogue next year. We
believe it will result in enhanced transparency between the
Chinese, Japanese and Korean militaries, and that better
communication between the three should be welcomed by
Washington. Because of the historical animosities that exist
between those three Northeast Asian neighbors, the more they
keep in touch with one another cooperatively the better.
STEPHENS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2018
TAGS: PINS PREL MARR KS JA CH
SUBJECT: ROK SEEKS U.S. VIEW ON KOREA-JAPAN-CHINA DEFENSE
TRILATERALS
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR JOSEPH YUN. REASONS 1.4 (b
/d)
1. (C) On November 3, MOFAT ROK-US Security Cooperation
Director Kim Yong-hyon demarched the POL-MIL chief on a South
Korean proposal to hold ROK-Japan-China defense trilateral
meetings in 2009. Kim explained that the ROK planned to
discuss the idea with the Japanese at the ROK-Japan bilateral
security consultation meeting on November 13.
Simultaneously, the ROK would raise it with the Chinese
through diplomatic channels. If all three governments agree,
a proposal to hold a "ROK-Japan-China Trilateral Defense
Dialogue" would be put on the agenda as a deliverable for the
ROK-Japan-China leaders summit meeting scheduled to take
place in Fukuoka, Japan on December 14. Kim added that the
idea would be for the leaders of those three neighboring
countries to point to the announcement of this new dialogue
as a positive example of enhanced cooperation in Northeast
Asia.
2. (C) Kim went on to explain that the ROKG intends to hold
the dialogue one rank below the level of the U.S.-ROK-Japan
Defense Trilateral Talks taking place in Washington this
week; this probably means at the level of office directors.
He said the agenda for the ROK-Japan-China defense trilat
would be limited to the topics of disaster relief,
humanitarian relief and PKO activities. He assured that
agenda would not outpace the U.S.-Japan-ROK defense trilats,
pointing out that the PRC would very likely approach the
initiative with great caution.
3. (C) ACTION REQUEST: MOFAT wanted to alert the USG in
advance so they have time to receive U.S. views on the idea
before ROK officials meet with the Japanese and discuss it
with the Chinese next week. Embassy therefore requests the
Department's guidance by November 11.
4. (C) COMMENT: While we should urge the ROK and Japan to,
first and foremost, increase their level of security
cooperation with each other through this year's revived
U.S.-Japan-ROK Trilateral Defense Talks, we also believe we
should welcome the Korean proposal for the start of a
ROK-Japan-China trilateral defense dialogue next year. We
believe it will result in enhanced transparency between the
Chinese, Japanese and Korean militaries, and that better
communication between the three should be welcomed by
Washington. Because of the historical animosities that exist
between those three Northeast Asian neighbors, the more they
keep in touch with one another cooperatively the better.
STEPHENS