ROKG TO HOST GICNT AND EPG MEETINGS IN APRIL 2009

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000119 SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/WMDT E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2019 TAGS: PARM PINS KS SUBJECT: ROKG TO HOST GICNT AND EPG MEETINGS IN APRIL 2009 REF: 08 SEOUL 2129 Classified By: Joseph Y. Yun for reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 4 and 5. ¶2. (C) The ROKG confirmed on January 21 that it will host in Seoul a Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) workshop on April 14-15 and an Exercise Planning Group (EPG) meeting on April 16. The Disarmament & Non-proliferation Division within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) is the lead for these events. MOFAT has instructed its Embassy in Washington to approach the Department to discuss the technical and logistical details of the meetings. ¶3. (C) The GICNT Workshop, tentatively titled, "Workshop on Current Efforts to Enhance the Security of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials," contains a plenary session, three technical sessions, and a technical tour of the Hanaro Research Reactor in the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. The technical sessions are on detecting nuclear and radioactive materials, reducing threats by securing facilities, and minimizing risks by consequence management. The ROKG has no details about the EPG meeting at this time. ¶4. (C) The ROKG is asking for consultations with the Department regarding the GICNT workshop on the following issues. -- The appropriateness of the consecutive timing of the GICNT workshop and EPG meeting. -- The appropriateness of the GICNT workshop's theme. -- Identification of core participants within the USG, (Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, etc.) and their contact information in Washington. -- Would USG agencies consent to giving a presentation in each technical session? -- Would USG agencies consent to co-chairing one or two of the three technical sessions with the ROKG? -- The ROKG would like USG assistance in requesting other countries (or individuals) to make presentations, and to approach these potential presenters cooperatively. -- The ROKG would like access to GICNT's contact database, if appropriate. -- What is the protocol for informing Russia, the GICNT's co-chair, about the GICNT workshop, and what should Russia's level of participation be? ¶5. (C) The ROKG is asking for consultations with the Department regarding the EPG meeting on the following issues. -- The ROKG's understanding of the previous EPG meeting in Paris is that the French provided the venue and logistics, but the USG retained control of the substance of the meeting. Is this understanding correct? If the ROKG retains control of the meeting agenda, how does it select the topics for discussion? -- The ROKG is seeking USG assistance/guidance on technical questions such as how invitations are handled; how session chairs are selected; and how the division of duties or tasks are determined. -- Identification of core participants within the USG, (Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, etc.) and their contact information in Washington. The ROKG believes that up to ten U.S. agencies participated in the Paris EPG meeting. -- The ROKG would like access to the USG's EPG contact database, if appropriate, in order to ascertain which non-governmental organizations the ROKG should invite to attend. -- What is the protocol for informing Russia, the GICNT's co-chair, about the EPG meeting, and what should Russia's level of participation be? ¶6. (U) The ROKG requests that the USG forward any response either to the ROK Embassy in Washington or to Park Eun-Jin in Seoul. The contact information for the POC in Seoul is 822-2100-7246 (telephone) and ejpark07@mofat.go.kr. STEPHENS