EAP FO MEETING WITH ROK NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

UNCLAS STATE 005268 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD SOCI KN KS SUBJECT: EAP FO MEETING WITH ROK NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS Sensitive But Unclassified, Please Protect Accordingly. Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On January 14, PDAS Joe Donovan met with nine members of the Republic of Korea (ROK) National Assembly (NA). The NA members were on a trip sponsored by the Korean Economic Institute, and represented a cross section of the ROK legislature, six from the ruling Grand National Party (GNP),two from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and one from the smaller Liberty Forward Party (LFP). PDAS Donovan gave a brief overview of ROK-U.S. relations and the importance of the U.S.-ROK alliance. After his brief, he invited the NA members to ask questions or comment on issues such as the Afghanistan PRT, military camp returns, and OPCON transfer. End Summary. Questions from ROK NA Members -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The first NA member to ask questions was Kim Sung-su who represents Dongducheon which is home to Camp Casey of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division. Representative Kim wanted to know when Camp Casey will be returned to his local government as the USFK realigns its forces around the central facilities south of Seoul. He also asked why separate parcels belonging to USFK, for training grounds that are not utilized, cannot be returned separately--sooner than Camp Casey. Kim claims that the parcels have never been used by the U.S. military. Kim also inquired why base realignment has been delayed and noting that Korean officials have indicated that the delay stems from U.S. insistence that South Korea pay 100 percent of the relocation costs. Finally he stated that after Camp Casey is returned, the local government would like to have a memorial event to recognize the over 750,000 U.S. soldiers who have served in Korea since the U.S.-ROK alliance began, and requested Department assistance in coordinating such a future event. ¶3. (SBU) PDAS Donovan explained that the base realignment and camp returns were ongoing and that both sides expected to complete the next handover imminently, for Camp Hialeah, the Kimpo mail facility and some training ranges. Donovan explained that the entire process was a joint effort of the U.S. DoD and the ROK MND. Donovan promised to coordinate with Embassy Seoul and USFK to provide additional information to Representative Kim's office. ¶4. (SBU) Representative Yun Sang-hyun of Incheon asked about OPCON transition. Mr. Yun stated that many people in the ROK are concerned that the timing is not right for wartime operational control to be turned over to the ROK Ministry of National Defense. Yun noted a ROKG favored plan to reduce the number of U.S. troops stationed in the ROK during the Roh Administration that was changed in the current administration due to the DPRK nuclear threat. Yun suggested that until the DPRK nuclear program was eliminated wartime operational control should remain with USFK. Donovan explained that during his most recent trip to Seoul, he met with the USFK commander, General Sharp. Donovan stated that Sharp confirmed that the ROK forces would be ready to takeover wartime control, and that USFK had complete confidence in the capabilities of the ROK military. Furthermore, Donovan said that OPCON transfer does not mean the U.S. forces will not be there to support the ROK military. ¶5. (SBU) Representative Yun acknowledged PDAS Donovan,s point, but wondered if OPCON transition in 2012 would send the wrong message to North Korea. Donovan replied that it is difficult to guess how North Korea will receive any message, but our close coordination will show the alliance is strong. ¶6. (SBU) Representative Lee Jin-sam, a retired ROK general and former Army Chief of Staff commented on how all Koreans should be thankful for the sacrifices and contributions of the U.S. soldiers who have served in Korea. He also stated that he has met with USFK,s General Sharp on several occasions and that he feels that Sharp is doing an outstanding job as USFK Commander. Lee said that Sharp informed him that tour normalization for USFK troops was a high priority and he hope that the U.S. and ROK could work together to assure that schools and other facilities were in place to support the reconsolidation of USFK troops and allow tour normalization. Lee also mentioned that the passage of the KORUS FTA would be a great way to culminate our alliance and friendship. Representative Lee also said that while in the early part of President Lee Myung-bak's presidency North-South relations were difficult, the relationship seemed to have thawed since Ambassador Bosworth,s trip to Pyongyang in December. PDAS Donovan stated that we are hopeful that North-South relations continue to approve and thanked Lee for his kind words and the vote of confidence for General Sharp. Donovan promised to mention Lee,s statement the next time he talks to Sharp. ¶7. (SBU) Representative Choi Kyu-sung from Northern Cholla Province asked about Kunsan Airbase (AB),which is located in his district. The Provincial government has requested USFK permission to utilize Kunsan AB runways to allow international flights to land directly in Cholla Province. He also inquired about U.S. views on resuming food aid to the North, referring to ROK aid to the people of North Korea. Donovan responded that ROK food aid should be decided by the ROKG, however the U.S. policy is not to link food aid and other forms of humanitarian assistance to the political/security situation (like participation in the Six Party Talks). That said, PDAS Donovan stressed that monitoring was very important. On the Kunsan AB issue, he informed Mr. Choi that such issues were for the Department of Defense to decide. ¶8. (U) Participants: The United States EAP PDAS Joe Donovan EAP/K Acting Director Dan Larsen EAP/K Brian Peterson (Note taker) The Republic of Korea Representative Kim Gi-hyeon, GNP--Ulsan Representative Son Beom-gyu, GNP-- Goyang city Representative Kim Sung-su, GNP--Dongducheon Representative Hwang Young-cheul, GNP--Hoingsung County Representative Yoon Sang-hyun, GNP--Incheon Representative Kim Choon-jin, DP-- Buan County Representative Choi Kyu-sung, DP--Gimje Representative Lee Jin-sam, LFP-- Buyeo and Chungyang ROK Embassy Lee Kwang-suk, Econoff (Note taker) ¶9. (U) This cable was cleared by PDAS Donovan. CLINTON