ROK RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE: ADVANCING THE U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000379 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL EU CU KS SUBJECT: ROK RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE: ADVANCING THE U.S. POSITION FOR CHANGE IN CUBA REF: STATE 18306 Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun, reasons 1.4 (b,d). (C) As requested by reftel, POL M/C urged Han Byung-kil, Director General, Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT),to consider the Republic of Korea (ROK) government use its influence with Cuba to promote a peaceful process of democratic change. When asked if there was any change in its policy towards Cuba in the wake of a new Raul Castro regime, DG Han said that at this stage, there was no willingness within the Ministry to develop a new relationship with Cuba. DG Han said that there could be an opportunity for future ROK engagement on this issue given that newly nominated Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan has keen interest in Latin American affairs. DG Han pointed to Foreign Minister Yu's experience while he was Director General of American Affairs in 1997 and as the principal driver behind the subsequent creation of a Latin American Affairs Bureau within the Ministry. Han also said Minister Yu traveled to Cuba in 1997 with Daewoo business executives to advance South Korea's trade interests there with limited success. Han also shared that while South Korea only maintains a small trade liaison office in Havana, the ministry does hope to eventually open a consulate to service the nearly 4,000 Koreans who visit Cuba annually. Nevertheless, Han said, any change in ROK policy toward Cuba would be coordinated closely with Washington, as before. (Note: Han said he will be leaving his position soon, probably in March.) VERSHBOW