SOUTH KOREA: 1994 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 009874


S/CT FOR REAP

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PTER KS
SUBJECT: SOUTH KOREA: 1994 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT


1. SUMMARY. (U) THE ROKG VIEWS ITSELF AS A POTENTIAL
TARGET FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND SHARES A STRONG
POLICY AGAINST INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM WITH THE UNITED
STATES. THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC
TERORISM IN 1994, AND NO ROKG PROSECUTIONS OR EXTRADITIONS
INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. THE POLICE IN KOREA
CONSIDER RECURRING INCIDENTS OF STUDENT VIOLENCE TO BE
CRIMINAL ACTS AND NOT TERRORIST EVENTS. THERE HAS BEEN NO
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN ROKG ATTITUDES TOWARD INTERNATIONAL
OR DOMESTIC TERRORISM SINCE 1993. THE ROKG HAS NOT TAKEN
STEPS TO REDUCE THE LIBYAN DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE IN KOREA,
AS STIPULATED IN UNSC RESOLUTION 748, ALTHOUGH THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF LIBYAN DIPLOMATS HAS GONE DOWN THROUGH
ATTRITION. END SUMMARY.

ROK AS A TARGET OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
--------------


2. (U) THE ROKG SHARES USG CONCERNS ABOUT THE
INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST THREAT, AND OUR POLICIES ON
TERRORISM AND TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS ARE GENERALLY IN
AGREEMENT. AS RECENTLY AS 1987, THE ROK WAS THE VICTIM OF
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM SPONSORED BY NORTH KOREA, WHICH
RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF 115 PASSENGERS ABOARD KAL FLIGHT

858. THE SELF-CONFESSED SABOTEUR OF KAL FLIGHT 858 WAS
TRIED AND SENTENCED TO DEATH, BUT RECEIVED A PRESIDENTIAL
PARDON IN 1990 AFTER COOPERATING FULLY WITH THE ROK AND
IMPLICATING NORTH KOREA IN THE BOMBING.


3. (U) THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC
TERRORISM IN 1994, AND NO ROKG PROSECUTIONS OR
EXTRADITIONS INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. THERE HAS
BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN ROKG ATTITUDES TOWARD
INTERNATIONAL OR DOMESTIC TERRORISM SINCE 1993.


4. (U) THE POLICE IN KOREA CONSIDER RECURRING INCIDENTS
OF STUDENT VIOLENCE TO BE CRIMINAL ACTS AND NOT TERRORIST
EVENTS. THE ROKG RESPONDS TO OCCASIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS
DIRECTED AT USG FACILITIES IN KOREA THAT PROVIDE
CONVENIENT TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENT PROTESTERS.
THE INFLUENCE OF THE RADICAL STUDENT MOVEMENT IN KOREA
CONTINUES TO DIMINISH IN KEEPING WITH DEMOCRATIZATION.
STUDENTS CONTINUED TO STAGE DEMONSTRATIONS DURING 1994,
USING FIREBOMBS, IN ONE INSTANCE, AGAINST KOREAN POLICE
STATIONS.


5. (C) THE ROK HAS SIGNIFICANT COMMERCIAL LINKS AND
CORDIAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH LIBYA AND IRAN AND
THEREFORE THE ROKG DOES NOT CONSIDER THESE COUNTRIES
LIKELY TO CONDUCT TERRORIST OPERATIONS IN SOUTH KOREA.
NETHERTHELESS, ROKG SECURITY AGENCIES CONTINUE TO BE ALERT
TO POSSIBLE TERRORIST THREATS TO U.S. EMBASSY PERSONNEL
AND INSTALLATIONS. THE USG AND ROKG ROUTINELY SHARE
INFORMATION ON POTENTIAL TERRORIST THREATS.


6. (U) NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA SIMULTANEOUSLY JOINED THE
UNITED NATIONS AS FULL MEMBERS IN OCTOBER 1991. THE ROKG,
WHILE DECLARING SUPPORT FOR UN SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA,
HAS TAKEN NO STEPS TO REDUCE THE LIBYAN DIPLOMATIC
PRESENCE IN THE ROK, AS STIPULATED IN UNSC RESOLUTION 748,
ALTHOUGH THE LIBYAN PRESENCE HAS GONE DOWN TO SEVEN
PERSONS FROM THE EIGHT WHO WERE HERE IN MAY 1992.

A STRONG POLICY AGAINST INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
-------------- --


7. (U) THE ROKG HAS A STRONG POLICY AGAINST INTERNATIONAL
TERRORISM BORNE OF ITS CONCERN OVER NORTH KOREAN TERRORIST
ATTACKS.


8. (U) THE ROKG HAS NOT AND DOES NOT SUPPORT STATE
TERRORISM AND DOES NOT PROVIDE DIPLOMATIC, POLITICAL,
FINANCIAL OR OTHER SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.
THE ROKG HAS NOT MADE ANY PUBLIC STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF A
TERRORIST-SUPPORTED COUNTRY ON A TERRORISM ISSUE.


LANEY