PSI: WELCOMING SOUTH KOREA AS A PSI PARTICIPANT

UNCLAS STATE 064064

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDING SENSITIVE CAPTION)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL KS
SUBJECT: PSI: WELCOMING SOUTH KOREA AS A PSI PARTICIPANT
AND OPERATIONAL EXPERTS DELEGATION VISIT PLANNING

REF: SEOUL 000830

Sensitive But Unclassified. Please protect accordingly.


1. (U) This cable contains an action request. Please see
para 3.


2. (SBU) On May 26 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Trade announced the South Korean Government's
(ROKG) official endorsement of, and participation in,
the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) as a way
to address the significant threat that the proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missiles has
had on global peace and security (REFTEL). On several
occasions in DC and in Seoul, ROKG officials expressed
interest in learning more about the PSI and participation
opportunities in PSI activities. The U.S. proposes
sending an interagency team of PSI operational experts
to brief ROKG officials on PSI activities and U.S.
interagency "best practices." The delegation would be
led by Tony Foley, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State for International Security and Nonproliferation
and Steve Schleien, OSD Director for Transnational
Threats. The delegation will also include representatives
from agencies normally involved in the policy-making and
operational implementation of the PSI, including DOD,
DHS, Department of Treasury, and the Department of State,
including appropriate Embassy representatives in Seoul.
Ambassador Stephens met with OSD and DOS on 18 June and
received a brief on US-ROK engagement on PSI and
supports this approach.


3. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Department requests post's
assistance to coordinate with ROKG a one day visit during
the week of July 20th. An interagency team will be in
ROK during this week for the U.S.-ROK Security Policy
Initiative (SPI) (July 23rd) meetings with Ministry of
National Defense officials. The SPI will include PSI as
an agenda topic. Embassy is requested to coordinate with
appropriate ROKG officials to arrange a PSI workshop
(preferably one large interagency meeting, if possible)
with host country officials from appropriate agencies
including Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Justice, Blue House,
Coast Guard and relevant law enforcement, customs, and
intelligence officials. ROKG attendees should include
appropriate policy, operational, and legal (customs law,
international / maritime law) representatives. Embassy
is requested to provide to host government the non-paper
in paragraph 4 below, containing information about ways
in which ROKG can participate in the PSI, including
upcoming PSI activities.


4. (SBU) Begin text of non-paper for ROK:

-- The United States welcomes Republic of Korea,s (ROKG)
endorsement of the Proliferation Security Initiative
(PSI). We look forward to exchanging information about
the PSI and working together with you and other PSI
partners to advance the counter-proliferation goals of
the PSI and its Statement of Interdiction Principles.

-- As you know, the PSI is a cooperative effort among
sovereign states committed to stopping proliferation-
related transfers to and from states and non-state actors
of proliferation concern by using their respective
national authorities and relevant international legal
frameworks, including UN Security Council Resolutions.
States participating in the PSI work together to develop
legal, diplomatic, economic, law enforcement,
intelligence, and other capabilities to interdict
shipments of proliferation concern.

-- While all PSI activities are voluntary and vary
according to an individual country's capabilities and
legal authorities, every country can contribute in some
way to the PSI's goal of preventing the proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems,
and related materials.

-- In order to be an effective PSI partner in halting
WMD proliferation, we recommend as a first step that
ROKG assess its national capabilities and legal
authorities to stop any transfers of proliferation
concern, whether by land, sea, or air, and determine
what it can do to close any gaps identified in law
enforcement or other authorities, including in
strategic trade controls and enforcement, or in
ports, territorial seas, or airspace, and, as the
ROK Diplomatic Note articulated, the South-North
Korean Agreement on Maritime Transportation,
which the ROK will continue to respect.

-- We understand that your government is interested in
participating in PSI capacity-building activities,
particularly exercises and workshops. PSI activities
are an excellent way to improve national interdiction
capabilities, explore related issues in the legal, law
enforcement and intelligence arenas, and enhance
international coordination.

-- The State Department PSI website at
http://www.state.gov/t/isn/c10390.htm lists upcoming
exercises in which your government may wish to
participate. In addition, a menu of past and planned
PSI events is posted at http://www.state.gov/t/isn/
c27700.htm. Additional information available for
all PSI partners is available at the PSI website
hosted by the Government of Germany
(http://www.psi.diplo.de). Access can be requested
through the German Foreign Office.

-- PSI Regional OEG Meeting. A European Operational
Experts Group (OEG) meeting will take place in Poland
from June 22-24. We understand that the ROKG has been
invited to attend and will send five officials. During
this meeting, the U.S. delegation has scheduled a
separate bilateral meeting with the ROKG delegation,
led by Mr. Lee Jang-keun, Director, Disarmament and
Nonproliferation (MOFAT),to discuss ROKG participation
in PSI.

-- PSI Interagency Workshop. The U.S. is amenable to
sending an interagency team to Seoul at ROKG's
convenience to provide deeper background on how to
organize for and participate in PSI. Issues to be
covered could include: developing a national response
plan and decision-making process for WMD-related
interdiction; proliferation finance tools; understanding
interdiction options allowable within the bounds of
national authorities and international legal frameworks,
including relevant UN Security Council Resolutions;
understanding the full range of non-military interdiction
tools, and more.

-- Regional PSI Counterproliferation Workshop. The next
PSI activity planned for the Asia-Pacific region is a
three-day Regional PSI Counterproliferation Workshop for
government experts from PSI-endorsing states in East Asia
and the Pacific. The U.S. and Australia will co-host
the workshop, which will be held in Sydney, Australia on
September 15-17. Its goal is to enhance the knowledge
and capabilities of governments so they can participate
more robustly in PSI activities, especially real-world
interdictions.

-- Exercise DEEP SABRE II. Singapore is planning to host
PSI exercise DEEP SABRE II October 27-30. DEEP SABRE II
is a regional maritime interdiction exercise. We
encourage ROKG to contact Government of Singapore to
seek and coordinate ROKG participation.

End text of non-paper.

POINT OF CONTACT
--------------


5. (SBU) Questions may be directed to ISN/CPI Carlos
Guzman, 202-647-6320). Please slug responses for
State/ISN/CPI (Carlos Guzman,GuzmanCS@state.
(sgov).gov) and OSD GSA (Beth Flores, beth.flores@osd.
(smil).mil ). Post's assistance is greatly appreciated.
CLINTON