Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL104
2009-01-21 07:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
ROK TO SEND DESTROYER TO THE GULF OF ADEN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #0104 0210743 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 210743Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2982 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 5184 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0071 RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 0624 RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI PRIORITY 0001 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1015 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 9185 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0185 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0720 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1634 RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA PRIORITY 0007 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 5291 RHMFISS/COMUSFK SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RUACAAA/COMUSKOREA INTEL SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP// PRIORITY RUEHUL/USDAO SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0593
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000104
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2019
TAGS: MARR PREL PHSA KS
SUBJECT: ROK TO SEND DESTROYER TO THE GULF OF ADEN
REF: SEOUL 39
Classified By: Joseph Yun for reasons 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000104
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2019
TAGS: MARR PREL PHSA KS
SUBJECT: ROK TO SEND DESTROYER TO THE GULF OF ADEN
REF: SEOUL 39
Classified By: Joseph Yun for reasons 1.4 (b/d).
¶1. (C) Kim Yong-hyon, the Director of the U.S. Security
Cooperation Division within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Trade (MOFAT) told poloffs on January 16 that the ROKG
decided to send a 4,500 ton class destroyer equipped with a
Lynx helicopter and rigid inflatable craft to the Gulf of
Aden to participate in the security operations of the
combined maritime forces. The destroyer can carry up to 310
personnel. The vessel's primary missions are to cooperate
with the combined maritime forces on counter-piracy and
selectively participate in any incidental counter-narcotics
activities, and to provide escort support to ROK commercial
vessels deemed to be in danger.
¶2. (C) As Kim predicted, the cabinet reported the decision
on January 20 to President Lee Myung-bak, who approved the
plan. (Note: The media reported on the decision the same
day. End note.) Kim said that the ROKG will send the plan
within a week to the National Assembly whose ratification is
obligatory before the ROKG can deploy military assets
overseas. Kim also said that MOFAT and the Ministry of
National Defense (MND) hoped to send a survey team to Bahrain
and Djibouti for consultations with the Fifth Fleet Command
by the end of January (date to be determined). The ROKG will
provide more detailed information during the upcoming
Security Policy Initiative (SPI) talks in Seoul. After
obtaining the National Assembly's approval, the ship could
depart Korea at the end of February or early March.
¶3. (U) Even though MND would deploy the vessel, the Bureau
of Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs within MOFAT has the
policy lead on the deployment and counter-piracy cooperation.
(See reftel.)
STEPHENS