ROKG ON UN THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002182 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2018 TAGS: PHUM PREL KS SUBJECT: ROKG ON UN THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS REF: STATE 117889 Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Yun. Reasons 1.4(b/d) ¶1. (C) On November 6 and 7, Poloff presented reftel demarche points to MOFAT North America Division I Director Moon Sook-hyeong and UN Human Rights Division Director Chang Jae-bok. MOFAT confirmed that the ROKG would vote to block no-action motions on all three of the resolutions, in keeping with its long-standing opposition to any no-action motions in the Third Committee. ¶2. (SBU) On the DPRK resolution, Chang confirmed press reports saying that the ROK will join Japan and the EU as a co-sponsor of the DPRK human rights resolution, so will join the USG in working for passage of the resolution. ¶3. (SBU) Similarly, the ROKG will again be a co-sponsor of the human rights resolution on Burma, so will work for its passage. ¶4. (C) On Iran, Chang confirmed that the ROKG will vote against the no-action motion but said that the ROKG will likely abstain when the resolution comes to a vote, in keeping with past practice. Chang said he would report the U.S. request for support on the Iran resolution and would be open to additional arguments about why the ROKG should vote for the resolution. He noted that Iran's Foreign Minister Mottaki will visit Seoul on November 12-13. ¶1. (C) Han STEPHENS