ROK MND DEPUTY MINISTER FOR POLICY SEEKS US

S E C R E T SEOUL 001945 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2034 TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MOPS KS AF SUBJECT: ROK MND DEPUTY MINISTER FOR POLICY SEEKS US SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN PRT PREPARATIONS Classified By: POL M/C James L. Wayman. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (S) OSD DASD Michael Schiffer met with newly appointed Deputy Minister of National Defense for Policy LTC Gwang Il Chang on December 11, 2009. Deputy Minister LTG Chang expressed his gratitude to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs (APSA) Gregson for his December 1 telephone call during which A/S Gregson previewed President Obama's Afghanistan strategy. LTG Chang appreciated A/S Gregson's support for the Republic of Korea's (ROK) Afghanistan PRT contribution. ¶2. (S) LTG Chang stressed the need for the US to sell ten MRAPs to ROK for use by the PRT before they deploy in July. He also mentioned additional equipment the ROK was seeking to purchase in order to harden the four UH 60 Blackhawk helicopters the ROK would send to Afghanistan. Chang thanked the US for our assistance in coordinating the ROK PRT in Parwan. He mentioned that Deputy Foreign Minister Yong Joon Lee would meet with SRAP Holbrooke 11 December in Washington and again thanked the US for our continued support to the ROK. ¶3. (S) DASD Schiffer thanked LTG Chang for the ROK Afghan PRT participation. LTG Chang noted the recent announcement that ISAF would be augmented by 7000 NATO troops and said the ROK was pleased it could participate. LTG Chang said the ROKG would request approval for the Afghan PRT from the National Assembly today, December 11. ¶4. (U) DASD Schiffer cleared this message. STEPHENS