SUBJECT: IRAN -- ROKG POSITIVE ABOUT JOINING THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001484 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2019 TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM IAEA IR PREL AORC SUBJECT: SUBJECT: IRAN -- ROKG POSITIVE ABOUT JOINING THE CHORUS REF: SECSTATE 95073 Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY POL M/C JAMES L. WAYMAN, REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (SBU) POL M/C delivered reftel demarche on 9/16 to Shin Dong-ik, Director-General of MOFAT's International Organizations Bureau, calling on the ROKG to join the international effort to urge Iran to respond constructively to the P5 1 offer and to fulfill its international responsibilities. POL M/C emphasized that the ROK, with its experience with the North Korean nuclear issue and good relations with Iran, was particularly well-placed to deliver this message. ¶2. (C) Noting the ROK's sensitivity to this issue, Shin stressed that the ROKG is dedicated to working with the international community to deter nuclear proliferation not only by the DPRK but by Iran as well. He stated that the ROKG had "no problem" with expressing public and private support for the P5 1 proposal and calling for Iran's full compliance with its international obligations. Shin explained that he would be consulting with senior MOFAT officials on how best to deliver the message to Iran, adding that Kim Young-mok, the ROK Ambassador in Tehran, would be a valuable ally in speaking "candidly" to his Iranian counterparts. ¶3. (C) Shortly after the meeting, DG Shin's assistant called us to relate that Ambassador Kim would be underscoring our points with his Iranian interlocutors as soon as possible. The assistant added that Foreign Minister Yu would also echo our message when he does an UNGA briefing for the local press prior to his departure from Seoul. TOKOLA