AMBASSADOR WI SUNG-LAC ON WEST SEA NAVAL INCIDENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001795

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS PINR PGOV KN KS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR WI SUNG-LAC ON WEST SEA NAVAL INCIDENT

Classified By: Ambassador Stephens. Reasons: 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
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1. (C) Ambassador Wi Sung-lac, the ROKG's point person on
North Korean issues, gave Ambassador Stephens a readout on
the November 10 naval skirmish in the West Sea. Wi said
there were no ROK casualties; he could not confirm reports
that at least one North Korean was killed and several others
wounded. Wi added that the ROK had lodged a protest with the
DPRK via military channels urging that such an incident not
be repeated and expressing hope that the incident would not
negatively affect inter-Korean relations. Separately, USFK
Commander General Walter Sharp called Ambassador Stephens to
say that USFK and ROK forces have not detected any
indications that North Korea is changing its military
posture. General Sharp related that the United Nations
Command would investigate whether the incident was an
armistice violation. End summary.

West Sea Incident
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2. (C) ROK Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace
and Security Affairs, Ambassador Wi Sung-lac, called
Ambassador Stephens "on instructions" to provide a readout on
the November 10 exchange of gunfire between ROK and DPRK navy
vessels in the West Sea.


3. (C) Wi offered the following chronology of events:

-- At 1122 (local time),a DPRK navy vessel crossed the
Northern Limit Line (NLL). A ROK Navy ship issued three
warnings to the North Koreans, instructing them to return
north of the NLL.

-- At 1136 (local time),the ROK ship fired a warning shot.
In response, the DPRK vessel fired 50 shots at the ROK ship.
15 of the shots hit the ROK vessel but caused no serious
damage. The ROK ship then fired 100 rounds at the DPRK
vessel, which returned north of the NLL. There were no ROK
casualties. The ROKG believes there was at least one death
and several injuries on the DPRK vessel but cannot confirm
that information.


4. (C) Wi said the ROK had lodged a protest via military
channels urging that such an incident not be repeated by the
DPRK and expressing hope that the skirmish would not
negatively affect inter-Korean relations. Wi noted that a
KCNA statement on the incident was relatively low-key and did
not mention casualties, which he said was "positive."

USFK: No Change in North Korean Military Posture
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5. (C) Separately, USFK Commander General Walter Sharp called
Ambassador Stephens to say that USFK has not detected any
indications that North Korea is changing its military
posture. He said the United Nations Command (UNC) would
assess whether the incident was an armistice violation; the
UNC would, per normal practice, invite the North Koreans to
conduct a joint investigation.
STEPHENS