REPUBLIC OF KOREA: 1998 ANNUAL TERRORISM

UNCLAS SEOUL 007019 S/CT FOR REAP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER KS SUBJECT: REPUBLIC OF KOREA: 1998 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT REF: STATE 202128 ¶1. (U) NO PROSECUTIONS INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL OR DOMESTIC TERRORISM WERE CARRIED OUT IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (ROK) IN 1998, AND THE ROK DID NOT RECEIVE ANY EXTRADITION REQUESTS FROM OTHER NATIONS FOR SUSPECTED TERRORISTS. ON DECEMBER 1, 1998, THE ROK NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RATIFIED THE ROK-U.S. EXTRADITION TREATY; WHEN THE U.S. RATIFIES THE TREATY, A POTENTIAL IMPEDIMENT TO THE EXTRADITION OF TERRORIST SUSPECTS WILL BE REMOVED. ¶2. (U) THE ROKG HAS CONSISTENTLY MADE CLEAR ITS FIRM OPPOSITION TO ALL FORMS OF TERRORISM, WHILE FOCUSING ITS COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS ON PREVENTING SUCH ACTS BY THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA (DPRK). THE ROKG COOPERATES FULLY WITH THE U.S. IN CASES OF POTENTIAL TERRORIST ACTIVITY. THE KOREAN GOVERNMENT PUBLICLY CONDEMNED THE TERRORIST BOMBINGS OF U.S. EMBASSIES IN TANZANIA AND KENYA, AND IN THE AFTERMATH OF THOSE BOMBINGS, WHEN INFORMATION INDICATED THAT TERRORIST ACTION MIGHT BE TAKEN AGAINST OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT INSTALLATIONS AND/OR PERSONNEL IN THE ROK, THE ROKG RESPONDED RAPIDLY, REINFORCING THE SECURITY PRESENCE AROUND U.S. DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AND UNDERTAKING A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF POSSIBLE THREATS. THE ROK'S SECURITY FORCES ALSO CONTINUE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO HANDLE POSSIBLE TERRORIST INCIDENTS. IN A RECENT EXERCISE ATTENDED BY FOREIGN EMBASSY REPRESENTATIVES, A COUNTER TERRORISM TEAM PUT ON AN IMPRESSIVE DEMONSTRATION OF THE ROKG'S PREPARATIONS TO DEAL WITH ANY POTENTIAL INCIDENTS AT THE 1999 ASIAN WINTER GAMES TO BE HELD IN KOREA. ¶3. (U) THE ROKG DOES NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, AND IT HAS NOT SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED ITS STANCE TOWARD TERRORISM IN THE PAST YEAR. IT MAINTAINS DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH LIBYA, IRAN, IRAQ AND SUDAN, BUT NOT WITH CUBA, NORTH KOREA OR SYRIA. IT DOES NOT CONDONE TERRORIST ACTIVITY BY ANY OF THESE COUNTRIES. BOSWORTH