ROK NPT DEMARCHE RESPONSE

UNCLAS SEOUL 000212 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/MNSA GENEVA PASS TO CD UNVIE PASS TO IAEA USUN PASS TO POL USNATO PASS TO POL USEU PASS TO POL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MNUC PARM PREL IAEA NPT KS SUBJECT: ROK NPT DEMARCHE RESPONSE REF: STATE 6970 ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3. ¶2. (SBU) Poloffs delivered reftel demarche on February 6 to Lee Jangkeun, Director of Disarmament & Nonproliferation Division within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT). The Deputy Director in Lee,s office will arrive the week of February 9 and Lee said they will provide Poloff with a detailed response to the questions raised in reftel in the near future. Generally speaking, Lee stated that the ROKG shares many of the USG,s objectives in the upcoming Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) and next year,s Review Conference (RevCon). Of the three traditional priorities: nonproliferation, peaceful utilization of nuclear energy, and nuclear disarmament, the ROKG sees nonproliferation and peaceful utilization as its top priorities. Nonproliferation is important for the obvious concerns regarding North Korea. Lee said that because the ROK is not a nuclear supplier, peaceful utilization of nuclear technology is important to the ROKG as it is the sixth-largest nuclear power generating country. According to Lee, nuclear disarmament is not a top priority to the ROKG as its security is closely allied with the United States. Lee stated the ROKG considers itself to be in the camp with western countries on NPT issues and expressed the need to work with developing nations in order to make progress at PrepCom and RevCon, particularly with Egypt and Indonesia. Lee also said the PrepCom must make a determination on North Korea. If North Korea's withdrawal from NPT is recognized, then other ways to get the International Atomic Energy Agency involved with the DPRK must be found. Lee underscored the ROKG,s desire to maintain close contact with the U.S. delegation. ¶3. (U) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests specific guidance to the questions below, posed by Mr. Lee: --Are there plans to appoint a new U.S. Special Representative for Nuclear Nonproliferation to replace Christopher Ford? --Who is the senior officer in the U.S. delegation for the NPT PrepCom and RevCon? --Regarding the NPT, what are the differences, or reordered priorities, from the previous administration? --Is there a new structure for the office that handles NPT issues in the U.S.? STEPHENS