ROK PKO IN HAITI FULLY SELF-SUFFICIENT

UNCLAS SEOUL 000240 SIPDIS FOR HAITI TASK FORCE AND UNDKPO/OMA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV HA SOCI MCAP MARR SNAR ASEC EFIN KJUS, KPKO, XL, KS SUBJECT: ROK PKO IN HAITI FULLY SELF-SUFFICIENT REF: STATE 12558 ¶1. (U) On February 16, Jun Ji Sun, Deputy Director, UN Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, informed Poloff that the Republic of Korea's peacekeeping team in Haiti is self-sufficient and does not require any logistics or transportation assistance at this time. Jun reported that the advance team of 30 peacekeepers was delayed in New York last week due to the weather, but arrived in Haiti on February 13. The next advance team of 20 troops will depart on February 18, followed by the rest of the peacekeeping team on February 27. All ROK soliders will travel to Santo Domingo and will likely travel to Haiti by land. ¶2. (U) Jun reported that the Ministry of National Defense contracted with a Korean delivery corporation to arrange for a Sri-Lankan cargo ship, the Hennascan, to transport engineering equipment, vehicles and food supplies to Haiti. The ship departed from the port of Busan on February 10 and is expected to arrive in Haiti on March 13. ¶3. (U) When asked whether the ROK peacekeeping team was in need of any assistance, Jun replied that the Minister had directed the peacekeepers to "survive by themselves," so the Korean Embassy in Santo Domingo was forced to be creative in finding a vehicle to transport the advance team to Haiti. However, Jun said, "we are trying to do our duty." ¶4. (U) Jun confirmed again that the ROK has authorized the peacekeepers to remain in Haiti until the end of the year, at which time the mission may be extended if necessary. STEPHENS