(C) SOUTH KOREA: KUDOS AND FOLLOW-UP ON ROK

S E C R E T STATE 040440

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2034
TAGS: PINR PGOV PREL AF KS
SUBJECT: (C) SOUTH KOREA: KUDOS AND FOLLOW-UP ON ROK
PLANS TO AID AFGHANISTAN DESPITE MEDIA COMPLICATIONS
(C-AL8-02816)

REF: SEOUL 002431

Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (C) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS READ REFERENCED REPORTING WITH
INTEREST. REPORTING REFERENCED PROVIDES EXCELLENT INSIGHT
INTO THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT SOUTH KOREA IS CONSIDERING
PROVIDING TO AFGHANISTAN, AND HOW SEOUL IS CHARACTERIZING THE
ISSUE WITH DOMESTIC MEDIA. SENIOR US POLICYMAKERS HAVE
EXPRESSED GREAT INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE, AND WASHINGTON
ANALYSTS WILL BE WRITING TO SUPPORT POLICYMAKER INTEREST.


A. (C) AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT, AND THROUGH THE COURSE
OF NORMAL BUSINESS, PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON
PROSPECTS FOR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PASSAGE OF THE VARIOUS LEVELS
OF SUPPORT BEING CONSIDERED FOR AFGHANISTAN, AND HOW SOUTH
KOREAN OFFICIALS ASSESS US POLICYMAKERS COULD AID THEIR
EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THIS ISSUE TO A POTENTIALLY SKEPTICAL
SOUTH KOREAN PUBLIC. MANY THANKS, AND REGARDS FROM
WASHINGTON.


2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL8-02816 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON