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Cables mirror and Afghan War Diary
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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03SEOUL5653 |
ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT FOR KOREA [...] No summary [...] |
2003-11-28 01:27:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER KS |
| 06SEOUL102 |
THE ROK'S NEW MINISTER OF UNIFICATION: LEE [...] (S) Incoming Minister of Unification (and Chairman of the National Security Council Standing Committee) Lee Jong-seok is a left-leaning nationalist who supports the ROK playing a more active and independent role in the world, particularly on issues involving North Korea. The Embassy has worke [...] |
2006-01-09 09:04:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PREL PINR KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1021 |
ROK CRITICIZED FOR "APOLOGIZING" TO DPRK TO [...] (C) In the aftermath of the March 22 incident at Mt. Geumgang, North Korea -- in which DPRK officials retaliated against South Korean journalists' statement that one of the North Korean participants in the inter-Korean family reunion event was "abducted" by preventing 99 elderly South Koreans [...] |
2006-03-28 09:35:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PGOV KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1031 |
RECENT TRENDS IN PRC-DPRK ECONOMIC RELATIONS AND [...] (SBU) Chinese economic ties with North Korea have expanded greatly in the past two years. Although the ROKG welcomes the stabilizing effect that Chinese trade and investment brings to the DPRK, it is alarmed at the PRC's growing influence, to the point that ROK officials now routinely assert [...] |
2006-03-29 08:22:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ECON EAID KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1033 |
DUSD LAWLESS CALLS ON SUH CHOO-SUK AT NSC [...] (S) SUMMARY: In a March 20 meeting, DUSD Richard Lawless told NSC Assistant Secretary General for Strategy Suh Choo-suk that the "LaPorte Plan" proposed to the ROKG in January represented an equitable, reasonable, and final offer to the ROK on environmental remediation. Deferring to MOE to pr [...] |
2006-03-29 08:39:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PREL PARM KS |
| 06SEOUL1034 |
PRESIDENT ROH VISITS AFRICA TO FURTHER ECONOMIC [...] (C) MOFAT officials told poloff that President Roh Moo-Hyun's March 6-13 visit to Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria as well as his meeting with the Secretary General of the League of Arab States on March 8, focused on improving economic cooperation and bilateral relations. Roh and Egyptian Presiden [...] |
2006-03-29 08:41:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ENRG KS |
| 06SEOUL1035 |
U.S., CANADA, ROK ANTI-TIP GROUP RECONVENES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: After a 16-month hiatus, the ROK-U.S.-Canada Trilateral Working Group on anti-trafficking issues (TWG) met on March 22 to discuss the trafficking of women from Korea to the U.S. and elsewhere. While the group recognized the cooperation among the Embassy and local police to arr [...] |
2006-03-29 22:58:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV CVIS PHUM KS KCRIM SMIG PREL |
| 06SEOUL1050 |
CAMBODIAN PM HUN SEN'S VISIT TO ROK FOCUSES ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: The March 20-24 visit to South Korea of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen focused almost exclusively on the Cambodians' interest in obtaining ROK designation of Cambodia as a country "qualified to export labor to South Korea." Accompanied by eight ministers, Hun Sen also secured [...] |
2006-03-30 07:50:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ELAB EAID KS |
| 06SEOUL1089 |
S/E LEFKOWITZ'S REMARKS ON KAESONG PROMPT [...] (C) Recent South Korean press reports drew attention to Special Envoy Jay Lefkowitz's March 30 remarks at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) calling for independent monitoring of labor conditions at the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC), and the subsequent response from Assistant Unificat [...] |
2006-04-03 08:48:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM EAID KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1090 |
POLITICAL POSTURING TO DOMINATE ASSEMBLY APRIL [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The National Assembly on April 3 began a thirty-day session that will likely be dominated by political posturing prior to the May 31 nationwide local elections. Issues on the agenda include the confirmation of Rep. Han Myeong-sook as the first female Prime Minister, scandals i [...] |
2006-04-03 09:17:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL1103 |
TALKING POINTS ON NOGUN-RI SCHOLARSHIP FUND [...] No summary [...] |
2006-04-04 07:43:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL MARR MASS KS |
| 06SEOUL1104 |
NOTIFICATION ON UPCOMING TESTING AT NEVADA TEST [...] No summary [...] |
2006-04-04 07:43:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PARM KTBT KS |
| 06SEOUL1108 |
ROKG OFFICIALLY RESPONDS TO USG NORTH KOREAN [...] (C) On April 4, Kim Ki-woong, Director of the Inter-Korean Policy Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, presented the official ROKG response to our ref g demarche seeking support for the USG North Korean refugee strategy. The ROKG response (reprinted in paragraph 3) centered [...] |
2006-04-04 08:19:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1128 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION KEY TO RESOLVING IMPASSE [...] (SBU) Prior to USTR Ambassador Portman's call to Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong about the beef issue, Embassy Seoul would like to offer some current context, and try to explain the possible reasons for the apparent disconnect between messages given to us by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade [...] |
2006-04-06 02:35:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EAGR KS |
| 06SEOUL1154 |
SEVENTH U.S.-ROK SECURITY POLICY INITIATIVE MEETING [...] (S) SUMMARY: At the seventh U.S.-ROK Security Policy Initiative (SPI) meeting in Seoul, March 21, the two sides agreed to work toward a shorter and less detailed Comprehensive Security Assessment (CSA), noted significant progress on the Joint Vision Study, and reaffirmed the commitment to dev [...] |
2006-04-07 08:11:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PREL MARR KS |
| 06SEOUL1157 |
SOUTH KOREA WILL RUN FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL [...] No summary [...] |
2006-04-07 08:59:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL KUNH UNGA KS |
| 06SEOUL1158 |
ROKG SOON TO SUPPORT USG CANDIDATE FOR INCB [...] No summary [...] |
2006-04-07 09:00:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR AORC PREL UN KS |
| 06SEOUL1159 |
USFK ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN NOTIFICATION [...] (C) On April 7, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) and Embassy delivered to MND and MOFAT, respectively, DUSD Lawless' notification letter on environmental clean-up of closed USFK bases. USFK and Embassy also shared the text of a proposed USFK press release on its action plan for environmental clean-u [...] |
2006-04-07 09:06:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR KS |
| 06SEOUL117 |
SENATOR MURKOWSKI'S MEETING WITH UNIFICATION VICE [...] (C) Ministry of Unification (MOU) Vice Minister Rhee Bong-jo on January 9 emphasized to Senator Murkowski and the Ambassador the importance of implementing the Joint Statement of principles issued in September after the fourth round of the Six Party Talks. He suggested broadening the scope of [...] |
2006-01-10 08:12:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | KNUC PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1179 |
DPRK REQUESTS ANOTHER 300,000 TONS OF FERTILIZER [...] (U) The Yonhap News Agency reported April 10 that, via a Red Cross telegram, the DPRK had requested an additional 300,000 tons of fertilizer assistance from the ROK. Ministry of Unification officials reportedly told Yonhap that they expected the request for fertilizer would be an agenda item [...] |
2006-04-10 08:52:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL EAID KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1246 |
ROKG PROTESTS PROPOSED JAPANESE SURVEYS IN [...] (C) Deputy Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se on April 14 informed the DCM that the Japanese Maritime Security Agency through its website announced its intention to conduct geological surveys beginning April 14 in a part of the East Sea (Sea of Japan) that would violate international law, ROK dome [...] |
2006-04-14 12:48:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHSA PBTS KS JA |
| 06SEOUL1266 |
STAFFDEL VISIT TO KAESONG INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX [...] (U) During an April 12 staffdel visit to the South Korean-managed Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC) in North Korea, KIC officials said that informal conversations with North Korean workers indicated that the DPRK provided the workers with approximately 70 percent of their wages, for a base inc [...] |
2006-04-18 06:20:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV ELAB PHUM PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1268 |
ROKG REQUEST FOR CHANGES TO CWC/HCA [...] (U) This is an action request, see paragraph 3. 2. (C) On April 6, MOFAT Disarmament and Nonproliferation Director Kwon Hee-seog informed poloff of the ROKG's request to amend the proposed Host Country Agreement (HCA) on the conduct of Chemical Weapons (CWC) challenge inspections (Ref A). [...] |
2006-04-18 06:40:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM MARR KTIA CWC KS |
| 06SEOUL1270 |
ROKG DISCUSSES BANGKOK SIX AND KIM CHUN-HEE [...] (C) MOFAT DG for Policy Planning Nam Gwan-pyo on April 18 told POL M/C that Seoul was relieved to hear that the six North Koreans had arrived safely in Bangkok (ref a). MOFAT has instructed its Embassy in Bangkok to assist in vetting and resolving the case quickly and quietly. Seoul was pos [...] |
2006-04-18 07:30:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PHUM AGMT KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1271 |
JAPANESE EMBASSY REPORTS TOKYO TO BEGIN MAPPING [...] (C) The Japanese Embassy in Seoul informed us April 18 that Japan will begin mapping operations on April 21 in waters that both Tokyo and Seoul claim as within their Exclusive Economic Zone. Japanese Embassy First Secretary Yamamoto told poloff that if faced with physical resistance by ROK f [...] |
2006-04-18 09:28:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PBTS PHSA PREL EFIS MOPS KS JA |
| 06SEOUL1279 |
ROKG SUPPORTS USG POSITION ON UN HRC [...] No summary [...] |
2006-04-19 05:01:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | KUNR PHUM UNHRC PREL KS UN |
| 06SEOUL1284 |
ROKG CONSIDERS RATIFICATION OF 2005 SUA PROTOCOLS [...] No summary [...] |
2006-04-19 05:50:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | KNNP MNUC PARM PREL KTIA PHSA KS |
| 06SEOUL1293 |
PRC DEFENSE MINISTER'S HIGH-PROFILE VISIT [...] (C) Summary: During a high-profile visit to Korea, PRC Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan discussed bilateral defense ties, cooperation on North Korea, and economic development with President Roh and Defense Minister Yoon. Cao advocated enhancing military exchanges and asked for invitations for [...] |
2006-04-19 08:48:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM KS CH |
| 06SEOUL1294 |
ROK'S RELIGIOUS LEFT/RIGHT/CENTER AND NORTH KOREA [...] (SBU) Korea's religion-based organizations have played a supporting, yet often critical role at key junctures in the nation's modern political history, from lending its organizational structure to farmers' uprisings in the 1800s to adding moral weight to the cause of democracy in the 1980s. [...] |
2006-04-19 08:49:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL1295 |
HAN MYUNG-SOOK CONFIRMED AS PRIME MINISTER [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The National Assembly April 19 confirmed Han Myung-sook as Korea's new prime minister, making her the first woman to assume the nation's number two job. Han, a two-time former Cabinet minister and former dissident, told fellow lawmakers that she hoped to use her tenure to ame [...] |
2006-04-19 09:26:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR KS |
| 06SEOUL1298 |
A/S SHANNON'S KOREAN CONSULTATIONS ON LATIN AMERICA [...] (C) Visiting WHA Assistant Secretary Shannon on April 12 reviewed with ROKG officials U.S. objectives for enlisting strategic partners, like Seoul and Tokyo, to play a key role in promoting democracy, free markets, and economic prosperity in Latin America. ROKG officials welcomed consultation [...] |
2006-04-20 01:59:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD ECON KS |
| 06SEOUL1308 |
ROKG PREFERS REQUEST COME FROM UNHCR ON BANGKOK SIX [...] (C) On April 20, POL M/C delivered ref a demarche urging Seoul to reconsider its position and quickly allow a ROKG official to assist with the processing of the six North Koreans in Bangkok to Nam Gwan-pyo, Director General for Policy Planning in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Na [...] |
2006-04-20 07:31:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREF PREL KS KN TH |
| 06SEOUL1314 |
DFM YUN BRIEFS DCM ON ROK-JAPAN MARITIME SURVEY [...] (C) In an April 20 meeting with the DCM, ROK DFM Yun reported that earlier in the day, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon had told the Japanese Ambassador that (1) Japan should immediately abandon its proposed maritime survey of submarine features in waters that Tokyo and Seoul both cl [...] |
2006-04-20 09:39:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PBTS PHSA PREL EFIS MOPS KS JA |
| 06SEOUL1322 |
MOU PREVIEWS APRIL 21-24 INTER-KOREAN MINISTERIAL [...] (C) In an April 20 preview of the April 21-24 inter-Korean ministerial in Pyongyang, Assistant Minister for Unification Policy and Public Affairs Lee Kwan-sei told the DCM that the ROK planned to urge the DPRK to return to the Six Party Talks and agree to the resumption of general officer-lev [...] |
2006-04-21 08:11:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MNUC EAID PHUM KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1327 |
FTA LABOR TEAM MEETS ROKG OFFICIALS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: U.S. FTA labor negotiators visited Seoul April 4 through 7 to meet with Korean government, management, and labor representatives; explain the FTA process; and conduct background research on Korean labor law and practices. Below, we report on the delegation's meetings with the [...] |
2006-04-21 09:27:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ELAB ETRD KS PGOV |
| 06SEOUL1328 |
LABOR GIRDING FOR FTA BATTLE [...] (SBU) The U.S. FTA labor negotiating team visited Seoul April 4 to 7 to meet with Korean government, labor and management officials and conduct background research. Korean organized labor representatives were wary of an FTA and feared that it would precede mass layoffs like those experienced [...] |
2006-04-21 09:29:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ELAB ETRD KS PGOV |
| 06SEOUL1330 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH FM BAN: NORTH KOREA, [...] (C) Summary: In their April 21 luncheon meeting, the Ambassador and Foreign Minister Ban discussed several bilateral and North Korea-related issues (see refs for discussions on ROK-Japan relations and Ban's candidacy for UNSYG). On North Korea, Ban said Seoul intended to raise human rights [...] |
2006-04-22 09:06:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1349 |
ROKG READOUT ON MARITIME RESOLUTION WITH JAPAN [...] (C) MOFAT DG for the Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau Lee Hyuk on April 24 told POL M/C that Seoul was relieved that it managed the maritime survey dispute and prevented a worsening of the already strained relationship with Tokyo. Both sides agreed that (1) Japan would recall its ships and dr [...] |
2006-04-24 10:19:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PBTS PHSA PREL EFIS MOPS KSAC JA |
| 06SEOUL1359 |
ROK: NHK-II PIP MISSILE TEST FLIGHT [...] No summary [...] |
2006-04-25 04:19:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PARM PREL MARR KS |
| 06SEOUL1373 |
LIBERTAD ACT: ROK HAS MINIMAL RELATIONS WITH CUBA [...] No summary [...] |
2006-04-25 07:16:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL ETRD ETTC CU KS |
| 06SEOUL1375 |
A/S HILL'S APRIL 13-14 MEETINGS WITH MOFAT YU [...] (S) During an April 13 meeting, MOFAT Acting Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan stressed to EAP A/S Christopher Hill and the Ambassador the need for patience with North Korea on the nuclear issue, a public emphasis on the importance of the Six Party Talks, and increased Chinese pressure on the Nor [...] |
2006-04-25 07:41:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PREL PARM MNUC EFIN KNNP KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1377 |
A/S HILL'S APRIL 13 MEETINGS WITH CHUNG [...] (C) In separate meetings April 13, EAP A/S Christopher R. Hill discussed the status of Six Party Talks and U.S.-ROK relations with the leaders of Korea's two main political parties. Chung Dong-young, Chairman of the ruling Uri Party and former Minister of Unification, expressed concern that [...] |
2006-04-25 08:19:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PNUC KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1378 |
ROK PREPARING TO SIGN THIRD ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL [...] No summary [...] |
2006-04-25 08:42:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC PHUM PREL PREF ICRC KS SZ |
| 06SEOUL1379 |
PRESIDENT ROH DRAWS RED-LINE UNDER LIANCOURT ROCKS [...] (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: Only days after Seoul and Tokyo announced a diplomatic agreement to end the stand-off over the Dokdo Islets (known in Japan as "Takeshima") (REFTELS), President Roh in a strongly worded address to the nation reasserted ROK sovereignty over the islets and declared that [...] |
2006-04-25 08:48:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS PHSA EFIS MOPS KS JA |
| 06SEOUL1385 |
A/S HILL'S APRIL 13 MEETING WITH FORMER PM LEE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Former PM Lee Hae-chan told visiting A/S Hill April 13 that in recent discussions, Chinese leaders sounded disenchanted with Kim Jong-il, skeptical of his ability to extend the Kim dynasty to the next generation, and dismissive of Kim's commitment to economic reform. Lee reaffi [...] |
2006-04-26 00:34:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MNUC ETRD KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1391 |
EMBASSY FTA OUTREACH EFFORTS AIM TO RALLY KOREAN [...] (SBU) The Ambassador and other Embassy officials have stepped up outreach efforts aimed at galvanizing Korea's "silent majority" to be more vocal in their support of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). The Ambassador delivered well-received speeches to politicians from both the r [...] |
2006-04-26 04:32:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL1395 |
PROPOSED KOREA ARMS VERIFICATION AGENCY VISIT TO [...] (U) This is an action request. See Para. 4. 2. (U) On April 24, Major Ham Hyeonpil from the Korea Arms Verification Agency (KAVA) contacted poloff to request the Department's assistance in coordinating a visit to the U.S. KAVA Deputy Director Colonel(R) Kim Suk Chan, accompanied by Major [...] |
2006-04-26 07:37:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PARM AC KCFE KS |
| 06SEOUL1396 |
SOUTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAM: STATUS [...] This year marks the 50th anniversary of U.S.-Korea cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear energy, begun with the signing in 1956 of the bilateral Agreement for Cooperation on Civil Uses of Nuclear Energy. This fact will be commemorated during the 27th meeting of the Joint Standing Comm [...] |
2006-04-26 08:01:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | TRGY ENRG KNNP KSCA SENV KS |
| 06SEOUL1398 |
ROK RESPONSE TO RESTRICTING ARMS SALES TO VENEZUELA [...] No summary [...] |
2006-04-26 08:07:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | MARR MASS PARM PREL VE KS |
| 06SEOUL1399 |
MINISTRY OF UNIFICATION ON APRIL 21-24 [...] (C) In an April 26 read-out of the April 21-24 inter-Korean ministerial in Pyongyang, Assistant Minister for Unification Policy and Public Affairs Lee Kwan-sei emphasized to the DCM the extensive effort Seoul made on persuading the DPRK to return to the Six Party Talks and to engage the inter [...] |
2006-04-26 08:27:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MNUC EAID KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1433 |
DFM YUN PROVIDES UPDATE ON LIANCOURT ROCKS ISSUE [...] (C) In an April 28 meeting with the DCM, DFM Yun Byung-se offered an update on the ROKG approach to its maritime dispute with Japan. Seoul was (1) preparing for the next round of EEZ talks with Tokyo that would be held by the end of June; (2) providing foreign diplomats with Seoul's justific [...] |
2006-04-28 08:51:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PBTS PHSA PREL EFIS MOPS KS JA |
| 06SEOUL1434 |
SWEDISH AMBASSADOR TO DPRK DISCUSSES INTERNAL [...] (C) In an April 24 call on the Ambassador, Swedish Ambassador to the DPRK Mats Foyer confirmed that last year's bumper harvest was not sufficient to overcome the food shortage in North Korea caused by systemic failures in central food distribution. Foyer saw, however, little sign of politica [...] |
2006-04-28 08:58:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MNUC EAID SW KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1435 |
NATIONAL SECURITY SECRETARY SONG MIN-SOON ON [...] (S). Summary: In an April 28 luncheon meeting with the Ambassador, National Security Secretary Song Min-soon said that the ROK was prepared to compromise with Japan on naming underwater features located in the East Sea/Sea of Japan, but that Japan seemed intent on pushing the issue to the lim [...] |
2006-04-28 10:12:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PREL PGOV ECON KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1445 |
ROK OPPOSES IRAN'S HRC CANDIDACY [...] (C) On April 27, POL M/C delivered Ref A points, urging opposition to Iran's candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council, to Cho Tae-yong, Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The same points were also delivered to Jang Hyun-cheol, D [...] |
2006-05-01 05:36:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KUNR PHUM UNHRC PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL1454 |
URI PARTY DEFIES PRESIDENT ROH -- AGAIN [...] (C) SUMMARY: The split between President Roh and his Uri Party appears to be widening, as the ruling party rejected Roh's pleas for compromised with the opposition on a controversial law to reform the private school system. Uri lawmakers are said to be angry that Roh has proposed a compromi [...] |
2006-05-01 09:44:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL1470 |
UNIFICATION MINISTER ON SIX PARTY TALKS, S/E [...] (S) In a May 1 meeting with the Ambassador, Minister of Unification Lee Jong-seok said he believed, from his meetings with North Korean counterparts at the April 21-24 inter-Korean ministerial in Pyongyang, that the DPRK would return to the Six Party Talks if given a face-saving way to do so. [...] |
2006-05-02 07:20:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PREL PHUM MNUC EAID KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1472 |
ROK QUESTIONS PERCEIVED USG POLICY SHIFTS ON DPRK [...] (C) In a May 1 meeting with the POL M/C, Cho Tae-yong, Director-General of MOFAT's North American Affairs Bureau, asked whether USG policy had changed toward the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC) and on granting asylum to North Koreans who had already been resettled in South Korea. Cho protest [...] |
2006-05-02 07:44:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM KS |
| 06SEOUL1473 |
SOUTH KOREAN READOUT ON PRC-ROK-JAPAN TRILATERAL [...] (C) On May 2, Lim Ki-mo, Director of MOFAT's Latin American and Caribbean Regional Cooperation Division, briefed poloff on the April 26 Director General-level trilateral meeting in Beijing between Chinese, Japanese, and Korean officials to discuss Latin America. The meeting's objective was to [...] |
2006-05-02 07:48:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD ECON KS |
| 06SEOUL1475 |
JAPANESE AMBASSADOR ON LIANCOURT ROCKS [...] (c) Summary: In a May 2 luncheon meeting with the Ambassador, Japanese Ambassador Shotaro Oshima said that Tokyo wanted a quiet, diplomatic resolution to the Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo/Takeshima) dispute. One encouraging sign was that FM Ban Ki-moon was positively inclined to meet with Japanese [...] |
2006-05-02 08:39:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV JP KS |
| 06SEOUL1477 |
PHARMACEUTICALS: HEALTH MINISTER TELLS AMBASSADOR [...] (SBU) The Ambassador met on May 2 with Minister of Health and Welfare (MHW) Rhyu Si-min and expressed serious concerns with Rhyu's plan to officially announce on May 3 a proposal to shift to a "positive list" system for reimbursing pharmaceuticals. The Ambassador urged Rhyu to postpone such a [...] |
2006-05-02 09:00:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EIND KS |
| 06SEOUL1478 |
USFK COMMANDER'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON PRESIDENT [...] (C) In his May 1 introductory call on President Roh Moo-hyun, USFK Commander Gen. B.B. Bell underscored the U.S. commitment to the bilateral alliance and stressed that, in his capacity as CFC Commander, he served the Presidents of both countries equally. Bell stated that the ROK's desire for [...] |
2006-05-03 00:43:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM MARR JA KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1496 |
KOREAN PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ [...] (U) This is an action request. 2. (C) On May 3, PolMil Chief delivered reftel message on the Iraq PRT initiative to Min Kyong-ho, Director of North America Division III, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT). Undertaking to report the follow-up request to relevant offices in MOFAT [...] |
2006-05-03 09:57:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PGOV PREL IZ KS |
| 06SEOUL1497 |
INFORMATION ON U.S.-JAPAN 2-PLUS-2 CONVEYED TO ROKG [...] (U) This is an action request. 2. (C) On May 3, PolMil Chief conveyed reftel information on USFJ realignment to MOFAT NAD III Director Min Kyong-ho. Expressing great appreciation for the information, Min undertook to study and share the results of the May 1 U.S.-Japan SCC meeting with rel [...] |
2006-05-03 10:02:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR JA KS |
| 06SEOUL1509 |
ROKG: UAV HYUNMOO-III/B FLIGHT TEST [...] No summary [...] |
2006-05-04 04:05:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PARM PREL MARR KS |
| 06SEOUL1516 |
DPRK REFUGEES IN BANGKOK: AVOIDING PUBLICITY [...] (C) As the case of the six North Korean refugees in Bangkok appears to be moving toward a successful conclusion, with very forthcoming cooperation from all concerned, including the RTG, ROKG, and UNHCR, Embassy Seoul wants to underscore the need to handle their arrival and resettlement in the [...] |
2006-05-04 07:50:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PHUM KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1518 |
ROKG REMOVES PROTESTORS FROM USFK EXPANSION SITE [...] (U) Starting early in the morning on May 4, the ROKG deployed a force of 11,500 policemen, 3,000 soldiers, and 700 military engineers to remove approximately 1,100 protestors occupying USFK's expansion site in Pyongtaek, 50 miles south of Seoul. (A smaller contingent of demonstrators had been [...] |
2006-05-04 09:07:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR KS |
| 06SEOUL1519 |
YUST PRESIDENT DISCUSSES PYONGYANG UNIVERSITY OF [...] (C) On April 28, Dr. James Chin-kyung Kim, president of the Yanbian University of Science and Technology, updated us his efforts to launch the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, noting that he and two other prominent Amcits and a ROK lawmaker would be traveling to Pyongyang in Jun [...] |
2006-05-04 09:22:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1529 |
DPRK ECONOMY: INTER-KOREAN WORKING-LEVEL ECONOMIC [...] (C) The most recent round of regular working-level (Director General-level) Inter-Korean Economic Talks ended with not so much as a whimper. The meeting, held in Kaesong on May 3-4, was to have focused on discussions on the inter-Korean railroad and related projects. No progress was made. S [...] |
2006-05-08 08:21:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON EINV PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1545 |
ROK PROVIDES UPDATE ON TIES TO IRAN [...] (C) On May 9, Ma Young-sam, MOFAT's Director-General for the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, requested a meeting with A/POL to reiterate Seoul's concerns about Iran's nuclear activities and to update the USG on two developments in ROK-Iranian relations: First, the ROK was considering [...] |
2006-05-09 07:44:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MUNC ETRD KS IR |
| 06SEOUL1549 |
PHASED REDUCTION OF ROK ZAYTUN UNIT IN IRAQ [...] No summary [...] |
2006-05-09 08:24:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | MOPS PGOV PREL IZ KS |
| 06SEOUL155 |
ROK STUDYING USG NORTH KOREAN REFUGEE STRATEGY [...] (C) On January 12, poloffs delivered reftel demarche, which requested support for approaches to Thailand, Mongolia, and Russia on processing North Korean refugees, to Kim Ki-woong, Director of the Inter-Korean Policy Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Deputy Director C [...] |
2006-01-12 08:27:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1581 |
DEMARCHE ON AUSTRALIA GROUP PLENARY SESSION [...] No summary [...] |
2006-05-11 06:13:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PARM PREL AG ETTC KS |
| 06SEOUL1605 |
PROTESTS PLANNED IN SEOUL AND PYONGTAEK OVER USFK [...] (U) The Pan-national Committee to Deter the Expansion of U.S. Bases, a coalition of 138 leftist civic groups, plans to hold mass rallies in Seoul and Pyongtaek over the weekend to protest USFK's expansion in Pyongtaek and last week's removal of anti-USFK activists (reftel). Approximately 10,0 [...] |
2006-05-12 08:25:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR KS |
| 06SEOUL1620 |
ISN DAS SEMMEL'S MAY 4 MEETING WITH ROK DEPUTY [...] (C) In a May 4 meeting with Park In-kook, MOFAT Deputy Minister for Policy Planning and International Organizations, ISN DAS Andrew Semmel said the U.S. delegation to the Conference on Disarmament (CD) was likely to present a draft text of the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMTC) later in t [...] |
2006-05-15 07:46:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MNUC MARR IR KS |
| 06SEOUL1621 |
WEEKEND PROTESTS OVER USFK EXPANSION UNEVENTFUL [...] (U) The much anticipated weekend protests against USFK expansion in Pyongtaek (refs) were relatively subdued. On Sunday, approximately 4,500 protestors, a much lower turnout than anticipated, encountered some 18,000 riot police dispatched to the Pyongtaek area. While there were minor skirmi [...] |
2006-05-15 07:51:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR KS |
| 06SEOUL1622 |
LOCAL UNHCR REQUESTS STOP TO NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM [...] (U) Action Request: See paragraph 3. 2. (SBU) On May 12, the Acting Representative of UNHCR in the Republic of Korea, Michele Manca di Nissa, informed poloff that over the past week 3-5 ROK citizens, apparently resettled from North Korea, had approached UNHCR requesting asylum in the Unit [...] |
2006-05-15 07:59:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PREF PREL PHUM AMGT KS |
| 06SEOUL1629 |
Round-Up of North-South Exchanges: April 2006 [...] North-South exchanges during April included cooperative efforts to preserve historic relics in the North, as well as practical exchanges in the agricultural, cultural and athletic fields. South Korea's humanitarian assistance to the North during April appeared to be smaller than in previous m [...] |
2006-05-15 22:36:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EINV ENRG SOCI ETRD KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1631 |
INTER-KOREA RAIL LINKS: WILL KIM DAE-JUNG MAKE IT [...] (SBU) South Korea and North Korea have agreed to conduct test runs of two cross-border railways on May 25, some 55 years after those rail lines were cut off at the onset of the Korean War. The agreement was reached at a special three-day working-level meeting dedicated to road and railway issu [...] |
2006-05-15 23:54:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ELTN EINV PREL RS CH KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1642 |
OUTLOOK FOR MAY 31 REGIONAL ELECTIONS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Polls indicate that the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) will win 11 of the 16 gubernatorial and major mayoral races in nation-wide regional elections on May 31. The ruling Uri Party and the Democratic Party (DP) are projected to win in two races each, while the ind [...] |
2006-05-16 09:52:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL1643 |
AMERICAN ACADEMIC SKEPTICAL ABOUT KIM DAE-JUNG'S [...] (SBU) In a May 12 meeting with poloff, Dr. Brian Myers, Professor of Korean Studies at Inje University, expressed skepticism that a June visit to North Korea by former President Kim Dae-jung would result in any substantial changes in the North's behavior or its return to the Six Party Talks. [...] |
2006-05-17 00:06:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL MNUC EAID KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1680 |
ROK READOUT OF UNSYG ANNAN'S VISIT [...] (SBU) On May 17, Oh Young-ju, MOFAT's Deputy Director for the UN Division, provided poloff with a brief readout of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's visit to Seoul. During his SIPDIS May 14-16 visit to the ROK, Annan met with President Roh, Foreign Minister Ban, and visited Seoul National [...] |
2006-05-18 08:10:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV UNSC KS |
| 06SEOUL1692 |
NO PROGRESS AT INTER-KOREAN MILITARY TALKS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Three days of the inter-Korean general officer-level military talks ended on May 19 without any agreement on key agenda items. The ROK side had hoped to map out measures to avoid clashes in the West Sea and receive assurances regarding safe cross-border passage of roads and rail [...] |
2006-05-19 08:38:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1710 |
U/S JOSEPH LETTER ON MTCR DELIVERED TO ROKG [...] No summary [...] |
2006-05-22 08:01:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | MTCRE PARM PREL ETTC TSPA KSCA KS |
| 06SEOUL1713 |
GNP CHAIRWOMAN IN STABLE CONDITION AFTER ATTACK [...] (SBU) Main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) Chairwoman and likely party contender for the 2007 presidential race Park Geun-hye was attacked May 20 in Seoul by an assailant with a box-cutter; she suffered deep cuts to her face. While she is expected to make a fast recovery, she will be h [...] |
2006-05-22 09:35:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL1725 |
ROK EXPRESSES APPRECIATION FOR NON-PAPER ON APRIL [...] No summary [...] |
2006-05-23 07:20:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM MNUC KNNP KS |
| 06SEOUL1728 |
INTERIM DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TO KOREA ARMS [...] No summary [...] |
2006-05-23 07:36:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM PREL KCFE AC KS |
| 06SEOUL1732 |
DAEJEON: RULING PARTY'S SOLE HOPE FOR VICTORY [...] (SBU) Daejeon City is one of the few races that the ruling Uri Party is reasonably projected to win in the upcoming May 31 local elections (Ref A), despite gains by the GNP in the aftermath of the recent attack on GNP Chairwoman Park Geun-hye (Ref B). As Daejeon is the ROK's geographic heart [...] |
2006-05-23 08:24:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL1736 |
ROK DECLINES CHAVEZ VISIT [...] (C) On May 23, MOFAT South America Division Director Park Dong-won informed Poloffs that the ROKG had declined Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's request to visit South Korea on July 16. Sensitive to USG concerns, the ROKG refused the visit in consideration of the U.S.-Korean alliance. Park [...] |
2006-05-23 09:33:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR ETRD KS VE |
| 06SEOUL1737 |
DPRK FOOD SITUATION: BAD, AND POSSIBLY CRITICAL [...] (C) We have recently seen a number of predictions that North Korea is, or will soon be, suffering a situation similar to the famine of the middle and late 1990's. Disruptions in distribution of rations and reports of localized food shortages are cited as the main proof of an impending crisis. [...] |
2006-05-23 09:40:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID EAGR PGOV PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1758 |
POINTS ON DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT ON CHINA [...] No summary [...] |
2006-05-24 07:09:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL PM CH KS |
| 06SEOUL1774 |
FOURTH ROUND OF USG-ROKG CONSULTATIONS ON NORTH [...] (C) Summary: DG Nam Gwan-pyo opened the 4th round of USG-ROKG consultations on North Korean asylum seekers on May 25 by commending the U.S. government on its endeavors to make the resettlement of North Korean asylum seekers in the U.S. possible, and saying that this consultation provides an o [...] |
2006-05-25 11:27:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PHUM KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1779 |
BUSAN: GNP POISED FOR CLEAN SWEEP [...] (SBU) The Grand National Party's (GNP) is poised, once again, to vanquish all challengers in the Busan region in the May 31 regional elections. Dissatisfaction with the Roh Administration appears to have hardened the Gyeongsang Provinces' traditional loyalty to the conservative GNP. END SUM [...] |
2006-05-26 05:21:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL1789 |
ROK GENERALLY UPBEAT ON STRONGER TIES WITH NATO, [...] (C) According to officials from South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT), the ROK was generally positive toward strengthened cooperation with NATO and eager to participate in global efforts to maintain peace and stability. The underlying concern for Seoul in assessing area [...] |
2006-05-26 08:10:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PINR PINS AS JA NZ KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1791 |
GNP LEAD WIDENS AFTER ATTACK ON PARK GEUN-HYE [...] (SBU) Polls indicate that the May 20 attack on the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) leader and presidential hopeful Park Geun-hye has influenced voters in swing provinces to vote GNP, which is forecasted to win at least 11 out of the 16 major mayoral and gubernatorial contests. Symp [...] |
2006-05-26 09:42:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1806 |
AMBASSADOR AND ENVIRONMENT MINISTER SPAR OVER [...] (C) Ambassador made an introductory call on Minister of Environment Lee Chi-beom on May 25. After initial pleasantries, the Ambassador highlighted strong U.S. frustration that continued disagreement over environmental remediation had stalled the return of closed bases. He noted that the Uni [...] |
2006-05-30 07:33:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR SENV KS |
| 06SEOUL182 |
ROK STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF U.S. POSITION ON IRAN'S [...] (C) In response to ref A demarche urging support for efforts to refer Iran to the Security Council for its violation of its commitments under the Paris Agreement, ROK officials expressed strong support for efforts to bring Iran back into compliance with its IAEA obligations during January 13 m [...] |
2006-01-13 09:17:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL KNNP MNUC KS |
| 06SEOUL1821 |
OPPOSITION SWEEPS LOCAL ELECTIONS; URI CHAIR [...] (SBU) As predicted (Ref A), the ruling Uri Party suffered a crushing defeat in the May 31 local elections. The opposition Grand National Party (GNP) won 12 of the 16 gubernatorial and major mayoral races, including Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, and the populous region surrounding Seoul, Gyeonggi Pr [...] |
2006-06-01 08:08:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL183 |
ROK SUPPORTIVE OF UN REFORM [...] (C) On January 13, poloff delivered ref A and B demarches requesting support for USG UN reform objectives to Oh Young-ju, Deputy Director of the UN Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Jang Hyun-cheol, Deputy Director of the Human Rights and Social Affairs Division. Oh s [...] |
2006-01-13 09:26:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KUNR PHUM UN KS ADCO |
| 06SEOUL1836 |
EAP PDAS STEPHENS' JUNE 1 MEETING WITH ASSISTANT [...] (C) In a June 1 meeting with EAP PDAS Kathleen Stephens, Assistant Minister of Unification Park Chan-bong stated that the DPRK's latest display of uncooperative behavior in inter-Korean dialogue led Seoul to question whether the DPRK leadership was experiencing some new internal strife in its [...] |
2006-06-02 08:42:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MNUC MARR ECON KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1855 |
PRESS BULLETIN - JUNE 5, 2006 [...] How Far Will Seoul Be Swayed By Pyongyang and Washington? (Dong-a Ilbo) 2. A Collapse is Also an Option at the FTA Talks (Hankyoreh Shinmun) FEATURES 3. Joint Chiefs of Staffs Report: "ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command to Be Dissolved in 2012" (Chosun Ilbo) 4. If U.S. Pre [...] |
2006-06-05 07:54:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL MARR ECON KS US |
| 06SEOUL1858 |
KORUS FTA: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH DEPUTY PRIME [...] (SBU) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy (MOFE) Han Duck-soo told the Ambassador on June 2 that the results of the May 31 local elections were probably unrelated to the economy, which is doing well. He attributed the poor showing of Uri Party candidates to personality p [...] |
2006-06-05 09:17:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EFIN PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL1868 |
COMPETITION POLICY: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH [...] (SBU) Newly-appointed Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) Chairman Kwon Oh-seong told the Ambassador on May 25 that he is planning to redirect KFTC policy toward a stricter approach toward anti-competitive commercial practices, while taking a lighter touch toward limiting the overall economic p [...] |
2006-06-07 05:45:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EINV PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL1876 |
ROK GENERALLY SUPPORTS GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-07 08:23:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR NATO KS |
| 06SEOUL1879 |
NORTH-SOUTH COOPERATION: DPRK AND ROK REACH [...] (SBU) North Korean and South Korean delegations meeting on Jeju Island reached an agreement late on June 6 that should allow the two sides to go forward with test runs of the two reconstructed cross-border railways located on the east and west coasts of the Korean Peninsula. Under the deal, S [...] |
2006-06-07 08:32:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ETRD EINV SOCI KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1894 |
ROK SUPPORTS U.S. INITIATIVE ON FMCT [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-08 06:23:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | MNUC PARM PREL KNNP CDG KS |
| 06SEOUL1905 |
ROK SHARES USG PERSPECTIVE ON IRAN FOR BOG MEETING [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-08 08:16:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM MUNC PREL KNNB IAEA KS IR |
| 06SEOUL1908 |
KORUS FTA: A LOOK AT KOREAN PUBLIC OPINION [...] Generally speaking, the Korean public remains noticeably supportive of the conclusion of a U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement despite steady public protests and often-critical media coverage. The proportion of citizens who feel strongly about the initiative is relatively small, however, so there [...] |
2006-06-09 01:25:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD SOCI PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL1920 |
POLITICAL FALLOUT FROM LOCAL ELECTIONS [...] (C) The dust is still settling from the Uri Party's catastrophic loss in the May 31 local elections (Ref A). As reflected in post-election polls, voters used the election to send a clear message of dissatisfaction to President Roh. While President Roh has stated that he will continue the adm [...] |
2006-06-09 08:30:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL1921 |
FM BAN KI-MOON CONVEYS CONGRATULATIONS ON KILLING [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-09 09:10:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL MOPS KS IZ |
| 06SEOUL1942 |
ROK CAUTIOUS ON REFUGEE PROCESSING IN RUSSIA [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-12 07:12:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL KS KN RS |
| 06SEOUL1947 |
DPRK ECONOMY: PDAS STEPHENS' VISIT TO KAESONG [...] (SBU) EAP PDAS Stephens visited the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC) project site on June 2, finding conditions consistent with previous Embassy reporting (reftels). Some new findings included additional detail on wage and employment conditions in the complex, as well as the existence of a sm [...] |
2006-06-12 08:24:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD EINV SOCI KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1952 |
DPRK ECONOMY: PDAS STEPHENS' VISIT TO KAESONG [...] (SBU) EAP PDAS Stephens visited the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC) project site on June 2, finding conditions consistent with previous Embassy reporting (reftels). Some new findings included additional detail on wage and employment conditions in the complex, as well as the existence of a sm [...] |
2006-06-13 00:34:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD EINV SOCI KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1963 |
KORUS FTA: SENIOR BLUE HOUSE OFFICIALS PLEDGE [...] (SBU) A troika of key senior Blue House officials told the Ambassador that they are paying very close attention to the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). The Chief Secretary to the President for National Policy outlined the SIPDIS Korean government's plans for internal coordinatio [...] |
2006-06-13 05:52:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL1964 |
OPPOSITION LEADER DISCUSSES ALLIANCE, FTA, [...] (C) SUMMARY: At a June 6 luncheon with the Ambassador, Park Geun-hye, leader of the opposition Grand National Party (GNP), reaffirmed the primacy she placed on the U.S.-ROK alliance. On North Korea, she criticized the Roh Administration's "unconditional" engagement with the North, but opined [...] |
2006-06-13 05:59:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR KS |
| 06SEOUL1968 |
AMBASSADORS TOUR KAESONG INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX [...] (C) Although Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC) tourism has not yet become as routine as the USO's twice-weekly trip to the DMZ, the visits themselves are developing along a familiar pattern. On June 12, the Ambassador joined a large delegation of ambassadors and other high-level officials who [...] |
2006-06-14 00:25:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PGOV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL1972 |
EAP PDAS STEPHENS' JUNE 11 MEETING WITH MOFAT [...] (C) In a June 11 meeting, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) Director General for North American Affairs Cho Tae-yong informed EAP PDAS Kathleen Stephens that the ROKG preferred having Secretary Rice visit the ROK before the July 26-28 ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meeting so that the [...] |
2006-06-14 05:00:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MNUC KN KS |
| 06SEOUL1977 |
ROKG AGREES HRC PRIORITY SHOULD BE PROCEDURAL [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-14 07:22:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL1978 |
ROK TO SUPPORT MDA AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-14 07:23:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PREL PHUM ICRC KS IS |
| 06SEOUL1981 |
KOREA-ASEAN FTA: TRADE IN GOODS AGREEMENT FINALIZED [...] (SBU) Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with the exception of Thailand, finalized and signed the Trade in Goods (TIG) part of their free trade agreement (FTA) on May 16 in Manila. The agreement will liberalize 90 percent of tariff lines, amounting to 90 percent of [...] |
2006-06-14 08:35:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD PREL KS XC |
| 06SEOUL2010 |
DPRK ECONOMY: EXPERT SAYS THAT BDA FREEZE POSES [...] (C) The General Manager of North Korea's Daedong Credit Bank, a British national, complained to the Embassy that actions taken by financial authorities in Mongolia and elsewhere in the aftermath of U.S. defensive measures against Banco Delta Asia are complicating the conduct of legitimate fina [...] |
2006-06-16 08:02:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2054 |
ROK TO OPPOSE CONFERENCE DISRUPTION [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-21 03:45:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM PREF AORC ICRC KS |
| 06SEOUL2059 |
INVITATION TO SEPTEMBER 27-29 DPRK WATCHERS' [...] (U) Embassy Seoul is pleased to sponsor its 2006 DPRK Watchers, Conference September 27-29 and invites participation from your Posts. As in the past, our aim is to bring together political and economic reporting officers from Posts who cover DPRK issues, as well as Washington-based Desk offi [...] |
2006-06-21 05:25:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PREF ETRD KN |
| 06SEOUL2094 |
AMBASSADOR AND MINDEF DISCUSS BASE RETURNS, EX [...] (C) Summary: During an hour-long June 23 discussion with Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung, the Ambassador urged the ROKG to resolve environmental remediation and training range issues, advocated Boeing's bid in the EX procurement, and reaffirmed our commitment to work toward a transfer of war [...] |
2006-06-25 22:42:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2095 |
U.S. BUSINESS REPS AND AMBASSADOR MEET PRESIDENT [...] (SBU) The Ambassador accompanied Citibank Chairman Bill Rhodes and other top representatives of the U.S.-Korea Business Council (USKBC) to their June 22 courtesy call on President Roh. The meeting focused on the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) and lasted a little over an hour. US [...] |
2006-06-25 22:42:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2108 |
INVITATION TO AFGHANISTAN PRT EFFECTIVENESS [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-26 08:06:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC NATO AF XD KS |
| 06SEOUL2109 |
NOGUN-RI: MUCCIO LETTER AND SCHOLARSHIP [...] (U) This is an action request. 2. (C) Following up DG Cho Taeyong's June 11 discussion with EAP PDAS Stephens (reftel), MOFAT North American Division II Director Shin Sungwon requested USG's positive response on the Muccio letter and scholarship extension. Presenting a nonpaper (text in pa [...] |
2006-06-26 08:07:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MASS KS |
| 06SEOUL2113 |
BAN AND ASO DISCUSS MISSILE LAUNCH, EEZ, FUTURE [...] (C) In a June 20 telephone conversation, Japan Foreign Minister Taro Aso and ROK Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon shared concern over the possible DPRK missile test. Aso asserted that Japan would work with the U.S. to take a tough response in the event of a launch. Ban said that the ROK wanted t [...] |
2006-06-26 09:28:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS PHSA EFIS MOPS KS JA |
| 06SEOUL2114 |
STATUS OF U.S. APPROVAL FOR ROK TO TRAIN U.A.E. [...] (U) This is an action request. 2. (C) In a June 26 meeting with poloffs, MND Americas Policy Division Assistant Director Kong Pyung Won inquired on the status of a ROKG request for the USG's permission for the ROK Air Force to train U.A.E. F-16 pilots in Korea. Kong said the request had be [...] |
2006-06-26 09:29:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MARR PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2140 |
AMBASSADOR, INDIANA GOVERNOR GREET NEW PM [...] (SBU) On June 26, the Ambassador paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, during which PM Han stressed the importance of the U.S.-ROK alliance and bringing the DPRK back to the Six Party Talks. The Prime Minister also expressed a personal interest in the Kaesong Industrial Com [...] |
2006-06-27 08:55:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PGOV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2144 |
ROK SUPPORTS UN REFORM, CONCERNED ABOUT BUDGET CAP [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-28 08:31:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV UNGA AMGT AORC EUN EU KS |
| 06SEOUL2182 |
"STRENGTHENING SELF-RELIANCE, BUT NOT AT THE COST [...] (SBU) Summary: In a recent speech to ROK generals, President Roh Moo-Hyun identified security as the most important element in inter-Korean relations, above peace and unification. While reaffirming his commitment to realizing a &self-reliant8 defense, Roh emphasized the importance of the U.S. [...] |
2006-06-30 08:33:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL ECON EAID KN KS |
| 06SEOUL2183 |
MEDIA REFORM LAW DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-30 09:21:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | KS PGOV PHUM |
| 06SEOUL2185 |
ROK SURVEY VESSEL IN DISPUTED WATERS NEXT WEEK [...] (C) MOFAT DG for the Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau Lee Hyuk on June 30 told A/DCM that the ROK planned to dispatch a research vessel on July 3 to conduct a sea stream survey, arriving possibly as soon as July 4 or 5, in waters of overlapping claims with Japan. Seoul, however, did not cons [...] |
2006-06-30 10:30:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS PHSA KS JA |
| 06SEOUL2190 |
SOHN HAK-KYU, THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF KOREA? [...] (C) Sohn Hak-kyu (GNP), outgoing Gyeonggi Province Governor and presidential hopeful, outlined his qualifications and vision for leading the ROK to the Ambassador June 29. Sohn currently trails other presidential hopefuls in the polls, but hopes to bolster his standing as the "progressive" c [...] |
2006-07-03 05:35:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR KS |
| 06SEOUL2201 |
BLUE HOUSE RESHUFFLES CABINET [...] (SBU) The Blue House announced today a partial cabinet reshuffle, placing in the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources two of President Roh Moo-hyun's most trusted advisors, Kwon O-kyu and Kim Byong-joon, respectively. Kwon, who replaces Han Duck-s [...] |
2006-07-03 09:03:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL2211 |
ROK REACTIONS TO DPRK MISSILE LAUNCHES [...] (SBU) Following an emergency NSC meeting early in the morning on July 5, ROK Senior Presidential Secretary for Security Policy Suh Choo-suk announced that the DPRK, between 0332 and 0500 Wednesday, had launched six missiles, including the Taepo Dong II as well as Scud and Nodong class missiles [...] |
2006-07-05 10:12:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL MNUC KNNP KN KS |
| 06SEOUL2212 |
FM BAN CONCERNED WITH JAPANESE SURVEY OF DISPUTED [...] (C) Summary: In a July 5 meeting with the Ambassador, Foreign Minister Ban said that South Korea and Japan had shown flexibility and self-control over the ROK survey vessel in the disputed EEZ. The standoff was essentially over because the vessel had made a rapid passage and was now out of t [...] |
2006-07-05 10:46:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KS JA |
| 06SEOUL2213 |
ROKG LIKELY TO SUSPEND DPRK HUMANITARIAN AID [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a July 5 meeting with the Ambassador and A/DCM, Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon shared his "grave concern" over the DPRK missile launches and said that the ROKG had "more or less agreed" to suspend humanitarian aid to the North. FM Ban said that it would be important to respond [...] |
2006-07-05 12:29:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PGOV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2220 |
POINTS ON PROVINCIAL IRAQI CONTROL DELIVERED TO [...] No summary [...] |
2006-07-06 04:13:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS PREL NATO IZ KS |
| 06SEOUL2227 |
ROKG OFFICIALS DISCUSS DPRK MISSILES, KIC, [...] (C) In a series of meetings on June 28, SFRC Professional Staff Member Frank Jannuzi told officials from the Ministry of Unification (MOU), Ministry of National Defense (MND), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) that the ROK should seek to dissuade a DPRK missile launch. Seo [...] |
2006-07-06 06:01:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MNUC ETRD KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2238 |
ROK REACTIONS TO DPRK MISSILE LAUNCHES-DAY TWO [...] (C) xxxxx that despite its decision to suspend humanitarian aid to the DPRK, it would ship another 24,700 metric tons of fertilizer 6-7 July. This final shipment will complete the delivery to the North of the pledge of 350,000 metric tons South Korea made earlier this year. MOU officials have expla [...] |
2006-07-06 09:41:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL MNUC KNNP KN KS |
| 06SEOUL2243 |
REUNION REFOCUSES ROK PUBLIC ON ABDUCTEES [...] (SBU) The emotional June 28-30 reunion between Kim Young-nam, a ROK abduction victim, and his South Korean mother has increased domestic interest in the DPRK's post-Korean War abductions of ROK nationals. Kim is one of a total of 485 South Korean abduction victims believed to be remaining in [...] |
2006-07-07 02:45:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PREF PGOV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2254 |
A/MOU EXPLAINS ROK ENGAGEMENT WITH DPRK [...] (C) The A/DCM called on Assistant Minister of Unification Park Chan-bong on July 6 to verify that the ROKG planned to proceed with a final portion of an earlier pledge of fertilizer assistance to the DPRK and intended to hold an inter-Korean ministerial next week as scheduled despite the Nort [...] |
2006-07-07 09:22:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM KNNP KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2255 |
ROKG TO RESTRIC INTER-KOREAN MINISTERIALS NEX WEEK [...] (C) Summary and Comment: In separate meetings with the Ambassador on July 6, Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon and Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok said that after a bitter internal fight over whether or not to cancel next week's inter-Korean ministerial, President Roh had tried to square the c [...] |
2006-07-07 14:13:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2296 |
UNSCR ON DPRK MISSILE LAUNCHES: ROK RESPONSE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Ambassador met on July 11 with Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon to urge Seoul to reconsider its opposition to the Japanese draft UNSCR on DPRK missile launches. This was in follow-up to a series of exchanges on July 10 with National Security Advisor Song Min-soon. Ban, like So [...] |
2006-07-11 11:08:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM MARR UNSC KN KS |
| 06SEOUL2320 |
ROK MOFAT AND NSC ON UNSC RESOLUTION: CHAPTER 7 [...] (C) In a follow-up to the Ambassador's meeting with FM Ban Ki-Moon and series of telcons with NSA Song Min-soon (Ref A), A/DCM called on MOFAT Director General for North America Cho Tae-yong and NSC Director General Lim Sung-nam to urge the South Koreans to support the Japanese draft of the U [...] |
2006-07-12 12:20:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2351 |
ROKG RESPONSE TO AFGHANISTAN PRT CONFERENCE [...] (U) On July 14, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) Southwest Asia and Oceania Division delivered a response declining to participate in the Afghanistan Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Effectiveness Conference scheduled for July 20-21 in Hungary. 2. (U) Begin text: Min [...] |
2006-07-14 06:55:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | AORC NATO AF XD KS |
| 06SEOUL2362 |
UNIFICATION MINISTRY ON JULY 11-13 INTER-KOREAN [...] (C) On July 14, Assistant Unification Minister Lee Kwan-sei provided a readout of the July 11-13 inter-Korean ministerial to the A/DCM and emphasized that South Korean government used the meetings to urge the DPRK to return to the Six Party Talks and convey strong ROK regret about the DPRK mi [...] |
2006-07-14 10:16:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MNUC EAID KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2392 |
"YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY BABY:" THE RISING STATUS [...] (U) Korean women are better educated then ever before and are working in greater numbers outside the home, joining management, becoming professionals, and entering politics. The entry of women into the public arena suggests that the ROK is slowly breaking away from its Confucian male-centered [...] |
2006-07-18 08:09:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | SOCI ECON PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL2399 |
FOREIGN MINISTER BAN'S UNSYG CAMPAIGN WEATHERING [...] (C) Five months into his official campaign for UN Secretary General, FM Ban continues to seek international SIPDIS support for his candidacy and to demonstrate his commitment to human rights and UN management reform. He reports no major opposition at this point, but is worried that without a sign o [...] |
2006-07-18 10:41:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2405 |
AMBASSADOR'S JULY 14 MEETING WITH NA SPEAKER LIM [...] (C) In a July 14 meeting with the Ambassador, ROK National Assembly Speaker Lim Chae-jung said that he was upset with the DPRK and hoped to work with the U.S. to find a unified response to the post-missile-launch situation. He agreed that a UN resolution was the next step but said Chapter 7 [...] |
2006-07-19 02:05:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL |
| 06SEOUL2432 |
2007 ROK PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS - ALREADY THE TALK [...] (C) Seventeen months before the December 2007 presidential elections, political pundits are already gauging every political act by how much it will affect the presidential race. The Grand National Party (GNP) elected Kang Jae-sup as its new party Chairman at the July 11 GNP convention. Many [...] |
2006-07-20 07:35:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2442 |
UNSYG CAMPAIGN: FM BAN ASKS FOR USG SUPPORT [...] (C) Summary. In a July 18 meeting with the Ambassador, ROK Foreign Minister Ban assessed tQt his candidacy had won broad support, however Q was concernQ that Washington, along with other P5 members of the UNSC, might not participate in the upcoming straw poll. That would be seen as a vote of [...] |
2006-07-20 08:26:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN KS |
| 06SEOUL2451 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: JULY 20 COMPACT MEETING IN [...] In response to reftel demarche, poloff met with Director of Development Cooperation Division Choe Cheol-kyu, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (MOFAT) International Economic Affairs Bureau, to convey appreciation for the ROKG's willingness to attend the Iraq Compact meeting. Choe [...] |
2006-07-21 07:00:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECIN OTRA IZ KS |
| 06SEOUL2457 |
ROKG AID SUSPENSION TRIGGERS ANGRY DPRK BACKLASH [...] (S) SUMMARY: In a July 21 meeting with the A/DCM, Secretary to the President for National Security Strategy SIPDIS Park Sun-won said that the DPRK has responded strongly to the ROKG's suspension of humanitarian aid following the DPRK's July 5 missile launches. To date, the DPRK has indica [...] |
2006-07-21 09:26:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PREL PREF PGOV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2458 |
DPRK MISSILES PROVOKE PUBLIC ANGER AT ROKG AND [...] (U) SUMMARY: The July 5 DPRK missile tests appear to be causing public ire, but not necessarily at the DPRK. According to polling agencies and our own informal "man-on-the-street" survey, many South Korean citizens are angry at their government's relatively slow response to the launches. More [...] |
2006-07-21 09:32:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PREF PGOV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2460 |
UNIFICATION MINISTRY DISCUSSES DPRK RESTRICTIONS [...] (C) Unification Ministry officials on July 21 told the A/DCM that the North seemed to be showing its anger with the ROKG decision to halt food and fertilizer assistance by cutting inter-Korean governmental contact at the Kaesong Industrial Complex and suspending family reunion projects. The R [...] |
2006-07-21 10:02:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2461 |
AMBASSADOR'S JULY 21 MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ROH'S [...] (C) Summary: On July 21, the Ambassador and Lee Byung-wan, President Roh's Chief of Staff, held a cordial and wide-ranging discussion on USG efforts to help victims of recent flooding, the need for a diplomatic solution to the DPRK missile crisis, presentation of a united front in the face of [...] |
2006-07-21 10:25:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD MNUC KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2475 |
THE GRAND NATIONAL PARTY - LEADERSHIP RESHUFFLE [...] (C) SUMMARY: On July 11 at the Grand National Party (GNP) convention, five-term National Assembly member Kang Jae-sup was elected GNP Chairman. Along with Kang, four GNP Supreme Council members were elected. On July 18, Kang nominated two more members to the Council and appointed the head of [...] |
2006-07-24 02:18:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2481 |
ROK FOREIGN MINISTER TO ATTEND UNGA [...] (C) On July 24, Lee Kyung-chul, Deputy Director of the UN Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade told poloff that President Roh Moo-hyun was not intending to participate in the UNGA General Debate, but Roh planned to be in Washington D.C. in September for a presidential summit. [...] |
2006-07-24 07:36:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL OTRA OVIP KSEP UNGA KS |
| 06SEOUL2488 |
FTA LABOR TEAM MEETS KCTU, OTHER LABOR GROUPS [...] (SBU) Formally meeting with U.S. officials in Seoul for the first time, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the more radical of the ROK's two major labor federations, welcomed the U.S. FTA labor negotiators to their headquarters on July 13. In a professional and business-like me [...] |
2006-07-24 23:20:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ELAB ETRD KS PGOV |
| 06SEOUL2492 |
2007 ROK POSSIBLE PRESIDENTAIL CANDIDATES PROFILED [...] (C) SUMMARY: As the presidential election season nears (See Reftel A), there are many faces, most old, some new, that are busy jockeying for position. Will the old guard come out ahead and succeed in replacing President Roh next year with a conservative leader such as Park Geun-hye? Or does [...] |
2006-07-25 00:13:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2493 |
JULY 26 BY-ELECTIONS PREVIEW: FOUR MORE NA SEATS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: There will be a by-election on July 26 for four National Assembly seats but even Uri Party lawmakers concede there is little chance for the ruling Uri Party to win even one seat. Two of the vacant seats are in Seoul, one in Masan, Gyeongsang Province, and one in Bucheon, Gyeong [...] |
2006-07-25 00:20:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2505 |
PHARMACEUTICALS AND KORUS-FTA: TURNING THE TABLES [...] (C) SUMMARY: With public release of the draft implementing regulations for its Drug Expenditure Rationalization Plan (DERP) scheduled for July 26, the ROKG has slowly but steadily backed away from all the key commitments it made to us on treatment of pharmaceuticals in the FTA, and has now w [...] |
2006-07-25 09:03:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD KS |
| 06SEOUL2535 |
ROK MINISTER OF UNIFICATION'S "U.S. FAILED" [...] (C) South Korean Minister of Unification Lee Jong-seok's July 23 televised remark that the United States "failed the most" in not preventing North Korea from launching missiles on July 5 sparked a strong negative reaction from both sides of the aisle in the National Assembly and among editoria [...] |
2006-07-27 06:21:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2545 |
MTCR: U.S. PROPOSALS ON CAS NUMBERS FOR SEPTEMBER [...] No summary [...] |
2006-07-27 07:54:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM MTCRE MNUC ETTC KSCA TSPA FR KS |
| 06SEOUL2549 |
JULY 26 BY-ELECTIONS: URI PARTY CONTINUES ITS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Out of the four National Assembly seats contested yesterday, the ruling Uri Party zeroed out again; the main opposition GNP won three and the minor opposition Democratic Party won one seat. The Democratic Party victory was particularly depressing for President Roh, as the victor, [...] |
2006-07-28 02:28:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2557 |
ROK RECEPTIVE TO FMCT NEGOTIATIONS [...] No summary [...] |
2006-07-28 05:54:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | MNUC PARM PREL KNNP UNGA CDG KS |
| 06SEOUL2573 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: MTCR, U.S. PROPOSAL ON [...] No summary [...] |
2006-07-31 08:08:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM MTCRE MNUC ETTC KSCA TSPA KS |
| 06SEOUL2575 |
ROK WORKING ON ITS OWN STATEMENT TO SUPPORT [...] No summary [...] |
2006-07-31 08:59:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID PREL IZ KS |
| 06SEOUL2576 |
BLUE HOUSE STANDS BY "AUTO-PLAGIARIZING" EDUCATION [...] (U) SUMMARY: Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Education Minister Kim Byong-joon faces widespread criticism for his alleged plagiarism and admitted publication of same articles in different journals. President Roh continues to back DPM Kim, and Blue House officials said the charges are not ma [...] |
2006-07-31 09:04:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2577 |
THE HINES WARD EFFECT: KOREA QUESTIONS ITS [...] (U) SUMMARY: When Hines Ward, a half-Korean, half-African-American pro football player, visited Korea recently, the event caused Koreans to examine their own prejudices against Koreans of mixed-race heritage. Hines Ward became a media darling, while the average mixed-race Korean suffers bigot [...] |
2006-07-31 09:15:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM KS |
| 06SEOUL2586 |
DPRK CANCELS ARIRANG FESTIVAL [...] (C) One of Northeast Asia's largest synchronized gymnastics and flashcard extravaganzas has been postponed until next spring. While the DPRK's stated reason for the postponement of the "Arirang Festival" was flooding following unusually heavy monsoon rains, some suspect the true motivation w [...] |
2006-08-01 07:10:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2593 |
BORDER GUARDS EXCHANGE FIRE ALONG DMZ [...] (C) On July 31, border guards of the two Koreas briefly exchanged fire around 7:35 p.m. (local) in Yanggu, the eastern portion of the demilitarized zone (DMZ). According to the South Korean Joint Chief of Staff (JCS) and United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission initial investigati [...] |
2006-08-01 09:29:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MARR PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2596 |
LABOR STRIKE SEASON IN KOREA: WINDS OF CHANGE? [...] (U) As part of an annual ritual, labor unions throughout Korea are pressing their employers for concessions. Strikes and threats of strikes are affecting many key areas of industry ranging from the largest steel manufacturer (POSCO) to the Korean Stock Exchange (KRX). Although these strikes a [...] |
2006-08-02 01:19:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB ECON ETRD PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2605 |
BIPARTISAN FRUSTRATION WITH PRESIDENT ROH MOUNTS [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a round of calls on reform minded Uri and GNP National Assembly members, poloff met with Foreign Affairs Committee members Choi Jae-chun, Lee Mi-kyoung, and GNP member Park Jin on August 1. While they expressed some expected differences of views on ROK's North Korea policy, t [...] |
2006-08-02 07:10:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2674 |
ROK BRIEFED ON LEBANON SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION [...] No summary [...] |
2006-08-08 08:01:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER MOPS UN KS IS |
| 06SEOUL2675 |
UNSYG CAMPAIGN: FM BAN'S UPDATE [...] (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador on August 7, ROK Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said that he was relieved to have done well in the recent UNSC straw poll for the declared candidates for UNSYG. At the same time, the results were also burdensome, because they had created the expectation tha [...] |
2006-08-08 08:29:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN KS |
| 06SEOUL2679 |
ROK INTENDING TO ATTEND UNHRC SPECIAL SESSION [...] No summary [...] |
2006-08-09 07:02:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM PTER MOPS KS IS LE |
| 06SEOUL2684 |
ROKG TO PROVIDE FLOOD-RELATED AID TO NORTH KOREA [...] (C) The ROKG is expected to announce emergency aid to the DPRK, probably through private NGOs, in the next few days, in the wake of reports of hundreds of deaths and extensive agricultural and infrastructure damage from the mid-July floods in the North. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade [...] |
2006-08-09 09:38:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON KN KS PGOV |
| 06SEOUL2685 |
ROH TAPS ANTI-CORRUPTION CZAR TO LEAD MOJ [...] (C) In a surprise announcement, President Roh on August 8 nominated Kim Song-ho to be the next Justice Minister. The nomination put an end to a fierce fight between the Blue House and the Uri Party over the fitness for duty of Roh's initial choice for the position, long-time Roh crony Moon J [...] |
2006-08-09 09:45:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2704 |
PRESIDENT ROH ON WARTIME OPERATIONAL CONTROL BY [...] (SBU) President Roh held an exclusive two-hour interview with state run news agency Yonhap at the Blue House on August 9, expressing his confidence in South Korea's defense capabilities. He said that "the ROK military is ready even immediately" to conduct independent wartime operational contr [...] |
2006-08-10 09:33:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MARR PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2706 |
CODEL HYDE MEETS PRESIDENT ROH: DIFFERING [...] (C) House International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde and delegation discussed what President Roh Moo-hyun called differing ROK and U.S. approaches to the DPRK, as well as general alliance issues at a one-hour Blue House meeting on August 10. President Roh emphasized that the DPRK's [...] |
2006-08-10 23:15:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL272 |
MOFAT OFFICIALS UPBEAT ON CURRENT ROK-PRC RELATIONS [...] (C) Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) officials told poloffs January 20 that the generally positive state of ROK-PRC bilateral relations was attributable mainly to the expanding volume of bilateral trade and growing educational exchanges, but also partially to the recent deteriora [...] |
2006-01-23 08:28:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD ECON MNUC CH KN KS |
| 06SEOUL2720 |
SPACE LAUNCH VEHICLE COOPERATION BETWEEN SOUTH [...] On 3 August 2006 poloff delivered reftel demarche on space launch vehicle cooperation between ROK and Ukraine to Youn Jong-Kwon, First Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (MOFAT) Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Division. Youn accepted and understood the request but did [...] |
2006-08-11 04:52:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM MTCRE PREL ETTC KS UP |
| 06SEOUL2721 |
ROK WELCOMES U.S. NOMINEE'S CANDIDACY FOR UNHRC [...] No summary [...] |
2006-08-11 05:00:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM UNHRC KS US |
| 06SEOUL2729 |
ROKG ANNOUNCES FLOOD ASSISTANCE TO NORTH KOREA [...] (C) On August 11, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade North American Affairs Division I Director Hahn Choong-hee provided the Embassy with the Ministry of Unification (MOU) press release announcing that the ROKG has decided to provide USD 10 million (10 billion SKW) of matching flood relief [...] |
2006-08-11 09:29:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2732 |
ROK WELCOMES UNSC RESOLUTION ON LEBANON [...] No summary [...] |
2006-08-13 23:34:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER MOPS UNSC UN KS IS LE |
| 06SEOUL2746 |
MOFAT OFFICIALS DISCUSS VENEZUELA, CUBA [...] (C) On August 11, the outgoing MOFAT Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Lim Ki-mo, provided A/POL with an update on ROK views toward Venezuela and Cuba. Seoul was considering allowing a visit by Venezuelan President Chavez, although there were no immediate proposals for a trip. Se [...] |
2006-08-14 06:43:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD ECON KS |
| 06SEOUL2778 |
URGENT DEMARCHE: SOLICITING CONTRIBUTIONS TO UNIFIL [...] (C) In response to reftel, A/DCM and POL-MIL Chief met with North American Affairs Bureau Director General Cho Taeyong on August 16, 2006 and urged the South Korean government to make a contribution to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in support of UNSC 1701. DG Cho, notin [...] |
2006-08-16 08:50:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | LE MARR MOPS PREL |
| 06SEOUL2779 |
PSI: INVITATION TO ATTEND EXERCISE LEADING EDGE [...] No summary [...] |
2006-08-16 09:08:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP MNUC PARM PREL |
| 06SEOUL2788 |
ROK READY FOR A WOMAN PRESIDENT? [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: With the ruling Uri Party utterly out of public favor, South Koreans await the 2007 presidential race with great anticipation. Among the candidates, Park Geun-hye, former chairwoman of the Grand National Party and the one of the leading presidential hopefuls, has a shot at becomi [...] |
2006-08-17 06:33:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2798 |
PSI: TALKING POINTS FOR JULY 2006 SINGAPORE OEG [...] (C) On August 16, A/DCM and POL-MIL Chief delivered reftel points regarding PSI talking points for July 2006 Singapore Operational Experts Group (OEG) meeting to Cho Tae-yong, Director General of North American Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT). Cho stated that he apprec [...] |
2006-08-17 08:46:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP MNUC PARM PREL |
| 06SEOUL2812 |
ENVIRONMENTAL SUBCOMMITTEE IMPASSE: SPI 10 FORECAST [...] (C) SUMMARY: At the end of Security Policy Initiative (SPI) 9 meeting on July 13, the chairs of both parties left with an agreement that fifteen of eighteen bases would be returned immediately and formally accepted by the ROKG, with documents signed within 1 or 2 weeks following internal admin [...] |
2006-08-18 06:26:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MARR PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2826 |
MTCR: U.S. PROPOSAL CONCERNING CRITERIA FOR [...] No summary [...] |
2006-08-18 10:00:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | ETTC KSCA MTCRE PARM PREL |
| 06SEOUL2827 |
PRESIDENT ROH'S INFORMAL COMMENTS ON OPCON, NORTH [...] (C) Summary and Comment: On August 13, President Roh Moo-hyun hosted a dinner for several newspapers which are considered "friendly" to the Roh Administration, including Hankyoreh, KyungHyang and Seoul Shinmun. Over the course of the dinner, Roh made frank comments on a number of issues, in [...] |
2006-08-19 09:15:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2828 |
ROKG TO SEND RICE TO NORTH KOREA AS FLOOD RELIEF [...] (C) On August 19, Assistant Minister of Unification Lee Kwan-sei told A/DCM that the ROKG planned to announce the following day that it had decided to provide North Korea with 100,000 metric tons of rice as well as some reconstruction equipment as part of a flood relief package. This follows [...] |
2006-08-19 09:16:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2850 |
ROKG CAUTIOUS ON USG VIEW OF UNSCR 1695 [...] (C) On August 21, political and economic officers delivered reftel points on USG thinking concerning UNSCR 1695 implementation to officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT). The officials gave initial responses claiming that ROKG policy was already largely in line with th [...] |
2006-08-21 09:16:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | MNUC PARM PREL PTER KNNP KPAO WMD CT KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2851 |
ROKG NOT PLANNING TO INVITE CHAVEZ [...] (C) Following up on ref A and media reports that Venezuelan President Chavez will visit China August 22-27, poloff on August 21 asked Choi Won-seok, MOFAT's Deputy Director for Latin American and Caribbean Regional Cooperation Division, whether South Korea would be a stop on the Chavez trip. [...] |
2006-08-21 09:17:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KS VE |
| 06SEOUL2852 |
AID SUSPENSION MAY FULFILL UNSCR 1695, SAYS NSC [...] (C) In an August 21 courtesy call by the CDA, Senior Secretary to the President for National Security Suh Choo-suk SIPDIS said that the ROKG's suspension of rice and fertilizer shipments would likely fulfill the ROKG's obligation under UNSCR 1695. Suh also explained the ROKG's one-time shi [...] |
2006-08-21 22:40:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PGOV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2855 |
DPRK TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FLOOD AID [...] In addition to the previously announced 100,000 metric tons of rice in response to extensive flooding in the North (reftel), the South Korean government will also send material for reconstruction and repair. Official estimates of death and damage were also released following discussions betwee [...] |
2006-08-22 03:55:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EAID PREL PINR KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2877 |
PRESIDENT ROH'S CABINET: CHANGING FACES [...] (C) This is an update on the incumbent ROK cabinet members and possible changes in the coming weeks. Amidst growing negative public sentiment toward the Blue House, President Roh Moo-hyun conducted a reshuffle of thirteen vice minister-level posts, including Vice Minister of Planning and Budge [...] |
2006-08-23 04:55:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2886 |
DEPUTY MINISTER FOR POLICY PLANNING ON UNIFIL, [...] (C) SUMMARY: During the Charge's August 22 courtesy call on Park In-kook, MOFAT Deputy Minister for Policy Planning and Public Affairs, DM Park commented on three pending UN issues. He said minimal ROK participation to date in UN peacekeeping was an argument spurring positive ROKG considera [...] |
2006-08-23 09:42:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | KN KS MARR MNUC PARM PREL UNGA LE |
| 06SEOUL2899 |
ROK SUPPORTIVE OF USG CANDIDATE'S REELECTION TO ILC [...] (SBU) On August 24, poloff delivered reftel points and diplomatic note supporting the reelection of Mr. Matheson to the International Law Commission (ILC) to Dr. Kim Sun-pyo, Director of the International Legal Affairs Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Kim said Seoul shou [...] |
2006-08-24 07:53:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | UNGA UNSC KS |
| 06SEOUL2912 |
A REAL YODUK STORY [...] (SBU) Twenty-six-year-old Kim Eun-cheol has a five-hundred-dollar cellphone, a gold bracelet on his left wrist, and angry scars on both knees from being tortured in the DPRK. Kim was an inmate in North Korea's infamous Yoduk prison from 2000 until 2003 and is one of fewer than fifteen people [...] |
2006-08-25 08:11:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PREF PGOV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL2913 |
PARTY REALIGNMENT - POSSIBLE SCENARIOS [...] (C) SUMMARY: With still sixteen months to go, the December 2007 Presidential elections already dominates political discussion in Seoul. Lawmakers are looking at how their actions in the fall Assembly session will affect the elections and the press is focusing more and more on possible candid [...] |
2006-08-25 08:13:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2917 |
THE "GAMBLING REPUBLIC": CAUGHT IN THE NET OF [...] (SBU) A scandal surrounding a video gambling craze is sweeping the nation and on August 25 has captured the front page of Seoul newspapers for the fifth straight day. The scandal centers on suspicion of bribes and kickbacks related to the approval of a new type of digital slot machine and its [...] |
2006-08-25 09:28:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL2953 |
ROK: NHK-II PIP MISSILE TEST FLIGHT [...] No summary [...] |
2006-08-29 02:04:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PARM PREL MARR KS |
| 06SEOUL2986 |
DEMARCHE REQUEST: MUCCIO LETTER AND NOGUN-RI [...] (U) Please see action item in paragraph four. 2. (SBU) On August 29, poloff received a demarche from Deputy Director Kang Dae-soo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (MOFAT) North America Division II. Deputy Director Kang said the ROKG plans to meet with Nogun-ri victims' repre [...] |
2006-08-30 06:45:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL MARR KS |
| 06SEOUL2989 |
PSI: SOUTH KOREA TO ATTEND EXERCISE LEADING EDGE [...] (U) Please see action request at paragraph three. 2. (C) On August 29, 2006, Director Park Chul-min, Director of the Disarmament and Nonproliferation Division of the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade informed Embassy POL-MIL Chief that the Republic of Korea accepts the U.S [...] |
2006-08-30 07:23:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP MNUC PARM PREL |
| 06SEOUL3008 |
ROK LIKELY TO CONTRIBUTE IN LEBANON; RENEW IN IRAQ [...] (SBU) Summary: On August 31, POL-MIL Chief met with Ministry of National Defense (MND) officials during a round of courtesy calls and asked about the status of deliberations on ROK troop commitments to UNIFIL and Iraq. Several MND officials stated that the ROK will likely contribute a 30-40 p [...] |
2006-08-31 09:38:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MARR PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL3028 |
NORTH KOREAN ECONOMIST ON "ABNORMAL" DPRK ECONOMY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Cho Myungchul, Head of the International Cooperation Team for Korean Unification at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy in Seoul, who defected from the DPRK in 1994 and is a prominent commentator on the DPRK, said that the DPRK economic situation is very dang [...] |
2006-09-01 08:14:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PREL KN |
| 06SEOUL3029 |
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AGENDA: HIGHLIGHTS [...] (C) As the National Assembly convenes its 262nd session, beginning September 1 and lasting a hundred days, politicians and pundits alike anticipate a series of political battles as the ruling and opposition parties struggle to gain the upper hand. Given the stunning defeat for the ruling Uri [...] |
2006-09-01 08:32:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL3064 |
KOREA AT CROSSROADS WITH LABOR LEGISLATION [...] (C) Following a meeting on September 2, the Korean Tripartite Commission (KTC) announced that several of the key players at the meeting agreed to a five-year ban on multiple trade unions in the workplace while continuing to allow the provision of salaries by companies to full-time unionists. [...] |
2006-09-07 02:44:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL3077 |
ROK HAS NO OBJECTION TO REFUGEE PROCESSING IN [...] (C) On September 6, poloff informed the ROKG that the USG will be discussing its interest in processing North Korean asylum seekers for U.S. resettlement on a case-by-case basis with the Government of Vietnam (GVN), to Yu Joon-ha, new Director of MOFAT's Inter-Korean Policy Division. Poloff s [...] |
2006-09-07 08:11:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL KS KN RS |
| 06SEOUL3097 |
ROKG SQPORTS IRAQ COMPACT MEETINGS [...] (SBU) The South Korean Government attaches great importance to the upcoming Iraq Compact meetings, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Director of North America Division I Hahn Choong-hee, and will participate in all three meetings mentioned in reftel: ROK Ambassador to Iraq Ja [...] |
2006-09-08 07:13:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID EFIN KS PREL |
| 06SEOUL3103 |
AMBASSADOR VERSHBOW DISCUSSES OPCON WITH GNP FLOOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: Opposition GNP Floor Leader Kim Hyoung-o told the Ambassador several times in a meeting on September 6 that the Grand National Party (GNP) strongly urged the U.S. not to discuss a timetable for the handover of wartime operational control (OPCON) at the September 14 summit or the [...] |
2006-09-08 09:39:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL ABLD KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3104 |
AMBASSADOR'S SEP 6 MEETING WITH DEFENSE MINISTER [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a September 6 discussion with the Ambassador, Minister of National Defense Yoon Kwang-ung cited widespread controversy within Korean society over the transfer of OPCON issue and strongly urged the USG to agree to 2012 as the X year, rather than pressing for 2009. He pred [...] |
2006-09-08 14:32:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MNUC KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3105 |
AMBASSADOR'S SEP 6 MEETING WITH DEFENSE MINISTER [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a September 6 discussion with the Ambassador, Minister of National Defense Yoon Kwang-ung cited widespread controversy within Korean society over the transfer of OPCON issue and strongly urged the USG to agree to 2012 as the X year, rather than pressing for 2009. He pred [...] |
2006-09-08 14:32:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MNUC KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3109 |
MAINTAINING THE MOMENTUM ON LEBANON [...] (C) This message is in response to reftel A. 2. (C) During separate meetings on September 6 with the Ambassador, South Korean Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) Yu Myung-hwan and Minister of National Defense (MND) Yoon Kwang-ung both explained that the ROKG would dispatc [...] |
2006-09-11 01:07:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MOPS MARR PBTS KS |
| 06SEOUL3128 |
DG KANG ON ROK REACTION TO UNSCR 1695 NON-PAPER [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a September 11 meeting requested by the DG for International Affairs Kang Kyung-hwa, she conveyed the ROK's position on the reftel demarche paper on UNSCR 1695. DG Kang said that the ROK thought that UNSCR 1695 was an important resolution that they would faithfully implemen [...] |
2006-09-11 09:57:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON JA KN KS OVIP PREL |
| 06SEOUL3157 |
KOREA-JAPAN ONE-TIME AGREEMENT ON SEABED SURVEY [...] (C) Japanese Embassy Seoul explained that the GOJ approached the September 5-9 negotiations with the ROKG about conducting scientific surveys in the disputed seas around the Liancourt Rocks with determination, informing the ROK that Tokyo was prepared to ask for international arbitration if ne [...] |
2006-09-13 07:53:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KS JA |
| 06SEOUL3158 |
ICG ON NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES: CAT AND MOUSE [...] (U) International Crisis Group's (ICG) Northeast Asia Project Director Peter Beck said that North Korean refugees, predominantly in China but increasingly going to Southeast Asia, need from USD 1,000 to 10,000 to get out of North Korea and live a very precarious "cat and mouse" existence after [...] |
2006-09-13 09:25:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | KN KS PREF |
| 06SEOUL3170 |
WILL THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS ELECT THE NEXT KOREAN [...] (U) SUMMARY: Historically, regionalism has played an important role in Korean presidential elections. But in 2002, young voters successfully mobilized and helped Roh Moo-hyun edge out Lee Hoi-chang by a 2.2 percent margin. The media had a frenzy touting the "youth revolution," and the da [...] |
2006-09-14 08:41:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL3217 |
SOHN HAK-KYU: THINKING MAN'S PRESIDENTIAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a Buddhist-run youth hostel at the foot of scenic Mount Sorak, GNP presidential hopeful Sohn Hak-kyu met with poloff over tea on September 17. The former Gyeonggi Province Governor, dressed in plain workman's clothes and sporting an unkempt beard, described his 100-day tour o [...] |
2006-09-18 07:59:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR KS |
| 06SEOUL3222 |
OPCON TRANSFER ISSUE DOMINANT DURING OSD NORTHEAST [...] (C) SUMMARY: On September 11-12, DOD/OSD Northeast Asia Director John Hill visited South Korean government officials in Seoul to discuss U.S.-ROK Alliance issues. In his meetings at the Ministries of Defense (MND), Unification (MOU) and Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT), OSD Hill stressed th [...] |
2006-09-18 23:46:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MARR MCAP KN KS |
| 06SEOUL3249 |
AMBASSADOR VERSHBOW DISCUSSES OPCON WITH GNP [...] (C) SUMMARY: GNP National Assembly Vice Speaker Lee Sang-deuk told the Ambassador on September 19 that the Grand National Party (GNP) was opposed to OPCON transfer. Lee emphasized that the purpose of his planned September 20-23 visit to the United States was to ask that OPCON talks be suspen [...] |
2006-09-20 09:03:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL ABLD KS KN |
| 06SEOUL327 |
ROKG PRESS FOR UPGRADE IN STATUS IN FOREIGN [...] (C) On January 25, poloff accompanied the OSD Senior Country Desk Director LTC Michael Finnegan and EAP/K Andrew Hyde to a meeting with MOFAT NAD III Director MIN Kyoung-ho seeking clarification on ROKG's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) discussions on the sidelines of the Strategic Partnership Di [...] |
2006-01-27 05:59:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | KS PARM PREL |
| 06SEOUL3286 |
SECURITY POLICY INITIATIVE (SPI) 10: OPCON AND [...] (S) SUMMARY: The OPCON transfer issue continues to generate widespread opposition throughout the ROK as we head into SPI-10. Indications are the ROK delegation may refuse to sign off on the Command Relationships Study (CRS) if we hold to our position of designating 2009 as the X year for OPC [...] |
2006-09-25 07:22:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | MARR PARM PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL3308 |
ROK SUPPORTS USG POSITION ON CUBA AT HRC [...] No summary [...] |
2006-09-26 08:03:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL |
| 06SEOUL3309 |
ROH CAN'T BUY A VOTE: FAILS THREE TIMES TO APPOINT [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Blue House failed three times to confirm its choice for President of the Constitutional Court, Jeon Hyo-sook, at the National Assembly. The Blue House asked Jeon to resign from her position as a court justice so she could subsequently start a new six-year term as the first w [...] |
2006-09-26 08:05:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL3311 |
DEFENSE MINISTER YOON ON OPCON, JIKDO RANGE, AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: On September 25, following his meeting with visiting Deputy Under Secretary for Acquisition Alfred Volkman, Minister of National Defense Yoon Kwang-ung raised several Alliance issues with the Ambassador one-on-one. On OPCON, Yoon emphasized the need for the USG to show flexibili [...] |
2006-09-26 08:47:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MARR PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL3365 |
PSI:INVITATION TO ATTEND EXERCISE LEADING EDGE [...] No summary [...] |
2006-09-29 08:13:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP KS MNUC PAARM PREL |
| 06SEOUL3366 |
GYEONGGI PROVINCE GOVERNOR'S AMBITIOUS AGENDA [...] (SBU) The Ambassador met with Kim Moon-soo, the newly elected Governor of Gyeonggi Province, on September 28. His province is of particular interest at this time because the majority of U.S. troops currently stationed at Yongsan in Seoul will be relocated to a base in the city of Pyeongtaek [...] |
2006-09-29 08:40:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL3369 |
AMBASSADOR VERSHBOW DISCUSSES OPCON WITH GNP [...] (C) SUMMARY: On September 26 over lunch, Ambassador Vershbow discussed OPCON transfer with three National Assembly members from the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP). The members gave the Ambassador feedback from their September 19-25 trip to the United States and explained in detai [...] |
2006-09-29 09:27:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL ABLD KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3370 |
SEOUL MAYOR OH SE-HOON'S VISION: A NEW SEOUL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Over a convivial lunch on September 29 with newly elected Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, the Ambassador and the Mayor discussed plans to improve Seoul, the issues regarding the relocation and redevelopment of the Yongsan Garrison, the 2007 presidential elections, the KORUS FTA and North [...] |
2006-09-29 09:35:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL3378 |
ROK PRIME MINISTER AND LIBYAN LEADER DISCUSS DPRK [...] (C) On September 26, Ma Young-sam, MOFAT's Director-General of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, requested a meeting with POL M/C to provide a read-out of Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook's September 19-21 trip to Libya. In addition to a discussion on bilateral economic matters, L [...] |
2006-10-02 05:11:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MNUC ETRD KS KN LY |
| 06SEOUL3390 |
SCENESETTER FOR HAGEL CODEL TO KOREA [...] (SBU) Despite a successful summit last month with President Bush, President Roh continues to face criticism in the press and even within his own party. Roh still has 15 months in office, but it is widely believed he is already a "lame duck". Nonetheless, he must still address a number of ke [...] |
2006-10-02 08:07:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | EAGR ETRD KN KS MARR PGOV PREL |
| 06SEOUL3391 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: TRANSITION OF KOREAN-LED PRT [...] (U) Please see action request at paragraph four. 2. (U) On October 2, POL-MIL Chief delivered reftel points regarding transition of Korean-led PRT in Afghanistan to NATO/ISAF command to Kim Jeong-seop, Director of International Policy Team, Ministry of National Defense. Identical non-pape [...] |
2006-10-02 08:08:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS PREL UNAUS KS AF |
| 06SEOUL3420 |
MTCR DEMARCHE DELIVERED: NONPAPER TO THE ROK [...] No summary [...] |
2006-10-04 09:59:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | MTCRE PARM PREL ETTC TSPA KSCA |
| 06SEOUL3421 |
MND READOUT ON OCT 2 N-S KOREAN MIL-TO-MIL TALKS [...] (C) SUMMARY: MND North Korea Policy Team Director Moon Seong-mook provided Embassy with a readout on the October 2nd North-South Mil-to-Mil talks. (NOTE: He has also submitted a detailed report of this to UNCMAC). During the two hours of talks, Moon said the DPRK complained about balloons c [...] |
2006-10-04 11:46:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MARR KN KS |
| 06SEOUL3426 |
KOREAN RESPONSE TO NUCLEAR TEST: AMBASSADOR'S [...] (S) SUMMARY: The South Korean government's response to North Korea's October 9, 2006 announcement that it had conducted a successful nuclear test included a pledge by FM Ban for swift, sure and strong action, beginning with suspension of a scheduled shipment of emergency relief aid to the Nort [...] |
2006-10-09 13:17:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PARM PREL MNUC KNNP CH KN KS JA |
| 06SEOUL3433 |
INR A/S FORT'S MEETING WITH MOU VICE MINISTER SHIN [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a September 27 meeting, Ministry of Unification (MOU) Vice Minister Shin Eon-sang told visiting INR Assistant Secretary (A/S) Randall Fort that the international community needed to create an environment where North Korea's weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) would be useless. [...] |
2006-10-10 07:44:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI KN KS |
| 06SEOUL3437 |
INR A/S FORT,S MEETING WITH MOFAT DEPUTY MINISTER [...] (C) Over dinner on September 26, Amb. Park In-kook, Deputy Minister of Policy Planning and International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT), agreed with visiting INR Assistant Secretary (A/S) Randall Fort that Japan remained preoccupied with the DPRK abduction is [...] |
2006-10-10 08:00:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KN KS |
| 06SEOUL3440 |
INR A/S FORT'S MEETING WITH NIS FIRST DEPUTY [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a September 27 meeting with visiting INR Assistant Secretary Randall Fort, National Intelligence Service (NIS) First Deputy Director Kim Man-bok said NIS has no evidence that Kim Jong-il would visit China in the near future. DD Kim said he believed there was consensus among th [...] |
2006-10-10 08:31:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3442 |
FINANCIAL MARKETS REBOUND DAY AFTER DPRK,S [...] No summary [...] |
2006-10-10 10:00:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EINV PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3447 |
INR A/S FORT'S MEETING WITH MOFAT DM OF FOREIGN [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a September 27 meeting with visiting INR Assistant Secretary Randall Fort, Yun Byung-se, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT), assessed that the U.S.-ROK alliance was healthy, citing the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations as a sign of its gr [...] |
2006-10-11 02:09:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3458 |
TRIPARTITE DEMARCHE ON THE UN DECLARATION ON THE [...] (SBU) Per reftel request, New Zealand's Ambassador to the ROK, Jane Coombs, Australian POL Counselor Martin Quinn, and poloff delivered the tripartite demarche on the draft UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIP) to MOFAT Director-General for International Organizations Kang [...] |
2006-10-11 07:47:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL KTIA UN |
| 06SEOUL3465 |
ROH-ABE SUMMIT DOMINATED BY HISTORY AND NORTH KOREA [...] (C) MOFAT Asia Bureau DG Lee Hyuk told POL M/C on October 11 that Japanese Prime Minister Abe's summit with President Roh in Seoul on October 9 provided momentum for an improvement in the strained bilateral relationship. The summit meeting, conducted in a frank and sincere manner, was domina [...] |
2006-10-11 09:38:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC KS KN JN |
| 06SEOUL3468 |
SMA NEGOTIATIONS ROUND IV: MOVEMENT, BUT STILL FAR [...] (C) SUMMARY: October 10 and 11 negotiations in Seoul on funding levels for the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) moved the two sides closer together, but substantial differences remain. The U.S. proposed a three year agreement, under which the ROK share would rise to 800 billion won in 2007 (4 [...] |
2006-10-11 12:31:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL3492 |
REACTION TO DPRK TEST: ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVES [...] (SBU) Local academic observers in South Korea provided the Embassy on October 10 and 11 with their takes on the DPRK nuclear test. Professor of Korean Studies and DPRK cultural analyst Brian Myers argued that the DPRK conducted the test primarily for internal reasons to recover from failed mi [...] |
2006-10-12 08:45:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | MNUC PREL PGOV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3558 |
PSI: ROKG NEEDS MORE TIME [...] (U) This is an action message. Please see para 10. SUMMARY ------- 2. (C) In response to reftel request, the Ambassador on October 15 raised PSI with National Security Advisor Song Min-soon. Separately, DCM also conveyed reftel points on October 16 to Park In-kook, Deputy Foreign Min [...] |
2006-10-17 08:25:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | MNUC PARM PREL PHSA KNNP EWWT KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3559 |
DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES UNSCR 1718 [...] (C) On October 16, the DCM presented reftel points on UNSCR 1718 to Park In-kook, Deputy Foreign Minister for Policy Planning and Public Affairs, urging that South Korea, along with other countries, come up with concrete steps to implement the resolution. Park said the ROKG welcomed UNSCR 17 [...] |
2006-10-17 08:58:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM KNNP KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3591 |
DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER ALEKSEYEV'S READOUT OF [...] (C) Assistant Secretary Hill, Vice Foreign Minister Chun Yung-woo and Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Alekseyev of Russia met in a trilateral meeting to hear Alekseyev's readout of his meetings in Pyongyang on October 13. In his high-level meeting with DPRK officials, Alekseyev made it cle [...] |
2006-10-20 02:36:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL3592 |
A/S HILL'S SEOUL MEETINGS: ROKG NOT PLANNING [...] (C) Assistant Secretary Hill's October 17-18 meetings in Seoul revealed that, while Seoul said it was prepared to implement UNSCR 1718, the ROKG had decided that the resolution did not specifically target North-South engagement projects, such as the Kaesong Industrial Complex and Mount Kumgang [...] |
2006-10-20 03:15:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3600 |
ROK REGISTERS NO OBJECTION TO POTENTIAL REFUGEE [...] (C) On October 18, poloff conveyed reftel points on USG interest in processing North Korean asylum seekers on a case-by-case basis in Cambodia to Park Ji-hyun, Deputy Director of MOFAT's Inter-Korean Policy Division. Poloff said the USG sought confirmation that the ROKG would assist with bac [...] |
2006-10-20 06:58:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PGOV KS KN CB |
| 06SEOUL3612 |
ROK REQUESTS NOGUN-RI SCHOLARSHIP EXTENSION [...] (SBU) On October 19, poloff received a demarche from Deputy Director Kang Dae-soo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (MOFAT) North America Division (NAD) II. Kang shared that MOFAT Director General Cho Tae-yong met with Chung Goo-do, president of the Nogun-Ri victims' representati [...] |
2006-10-20 08:45:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MASS KS |
| 06SEOUL3655 |
FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER HAN SUNG-JOO'S OCTOBER [...] (C) On October 24, POL M/C met with Han Sung-joo, Korea University Professor and former ROK Ambassador to the United States (2003-2004) and Foreign Minister (1993-1994), to discuss his October 17-21 visit to North Korea as part of a 21-person ROK delegation to attend an exhibition honoring fo [...] |
2006-10-25 04:49:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MNUC KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3670 |
OCTOBER 25 BY-ELECTIONS: ANOTHER DEFEAT FOR RULING [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In another crushing defeat for the ruling Uri Party, the two National Assembly seats up for grabs in the October 25 by-elections went overwhelmingly to the opposition. To add insult to injury, in Incheon, the Uri Party candidate, a close friend of Uri Chairman Kim Geun-tae, ca [...] |
2006-10-26 06:17:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL3673 |
ROKG PROBABLY TO ABSTAIN ON UNGA RESOLUTIONS ON [...] No summary [...] |
2006-10-26 07:53:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL PTER UNGA KS IS LE |
| 06SEOUL368 |
JANUARY 30 P5+2 POINTS CONVEYED [...] No summary [...] |
2006-02-01 08:12:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM KS KN KNNP IR EU AORC |
| 06SEOUL3684 |
GNP PARLIAMENTARY VICE SPEAKER LEE SANG-DEUK ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a lunch meeting on October 25 with the Ambassador, GNP National Assembly Vice Speaker Lee expressed concern over the Roh administration's handling of the U.S.-ROK alliance, OPCON transfer, North Korea and expressed general dissatisfatction with Roh. Lee's clear message was th [...] |
2006-10-27 02:30:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL ABLD KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3688 |
ROKG STUDYING DEMARCHE OPPOSING ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS [...] No summary [...] |
2006-10-27 04:41:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL UNGA KS IS |
| 06SEOUL3720 |
SEOUL DEBATES PSI [...] (C) SUMMARY: The ROK government and National Assembly are engaged in a sharply divided debate over whether to increase support for the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), and if so with what caveats. Post expects a decision soon, but nearly all sides appear to agree that regardless of [...] |
2006-10-30 09:44:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MNUC KNNP KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3760 |
KOREA'S NEW INTEL CHIEF NAMED [...] (U) President Roh Moo-hyun named Kim Man-bok as the new chief of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) on November  [...] |
2006-11-01 08:13:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL3764 |
KOREA'S NEW MINISTER OF UNIFICATION: LEE JAE-JEONG [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Lee Jae-jeong, Senior Vice President of the Advisory Council on Democratic and Peaceful Unification, former Assemblyman (2000-2004), Anglican Pastor and former Campaign Publicity Director for Roh Moo-hyun's 2002 campaign, was nominated November 1 to be the next Minister of Unif [...] |
2006-11-01 08:42:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL3767 |
ROK OFFERS TO EXPAND PSI PARTICIPATION, WITHOUT [...] (S) On November 1, Park Sun-won, Secretary to the President for National Security Strategy, outlined for the DCM a new ROK proposal for its participation in PSI. He said the South Korean Government would soon announce three responses to the October 9 North Korean nuclear weapons test: 1) Me [...] |
2006-11-01 11:08:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PARM PREL MNUC KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3768 |
ROK ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF APPOINTED AS MINISTER OF [...] (C) On November 1, 2006 the Blue House announced the nomination of ROK Army (ROKA) Chief of Staff General Kim Jang-soo as South Korea's next Minister of National Defense. General Kim is a widely respected infantry soldier who rose smartly through the ranks and was the first in his academy cl [...] |
2006-11-01 11:13:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3791 |
THE FUTURE OF THE URI PARTY: BREAKUP? [...] (C) SUMMARY: Within the Uri Party, there are three distinct schools of thought on what the party's future should be; first that the Uri Party should continue on as is and work to strengthen the party; second, the party should dissolve and re-form as a regional party similar to Kim Dae-jung's [...] |
2006-11-03 00:40:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL3794 |
SOUTH KOREA: PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS PLAN [...] (U) In preparation for a possible influenza pandemic, the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has unveiled its National Preparedness and Response Plan for Pandemic Influenza. Officials at KCDC said the plan, drawn up by medical experts at Korea University Medical School, c [...] |
2006-11-03 04:53:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | TBIO ECON EAGR AMED KFLU KS |
| 06SEOUL3858 |
IRAQ DEPUTY COORDINATOR STEPHENSON VISIT TO SEOUL: [...] (C) A U.S. delegation headed by Barbara Stephenson, Deputy Coordinator for Iraq (S/I), visited Seoul November 2-3 to express appreciation for the important role South Korea has played in Iraq, discuss plans for troops, and thank the ROKG for its willingness to lead a Regional Reconstruction T [...] |
2006-11-08 09:02:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PARM PREL IZ KS |
| 06SEOUL3860 |
ROKG AWARE OF UNSCR 1718 OBLIGATIONS [...] (S) On November 6, Poloff delivered reftel points urging capitals against conducting business with the (North) Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation (KOMID) to Youn Jong-kwon, Deputy Director for MOFAT's Disarmament and Non-proliferation Division. Contacted again on November 8, Youn r [...] |
2006-11-08 23:15:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PARM PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3861 |
FORMER GYEONGGI GOVERNOR SOHN HAK-KYU ON NORTH [...] (C) Over lunch with the Ambassador on November 3, GNP Presidential hopeful and former Gyeonggi Province Governor Sohn Hak-kyu asked many probing questions about where U.S.-ROK relations were headed and offered his views on North Korea and his assessment of the ROK political scene, including h [...] |
2006-11-09 01:30:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL ABLD KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3875 |
ROK TO SUPPORT USG CANDIDATE'S REELECTION TO ILC [...] No summary [...] |
2006-11-09 06:33:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL UNGA KS |
| 06SEOUL3880 |
PROPOSED 2006 APEC LEADERS' DECLARATION ON NORTH [...] (C) Lee Yong-joon, Director General for North Korean Nuclear Affairs at the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) met with POLMC on November 9, 2006 to provide the Republic of Korea's response to the proposed 2006 APEC Leaders' Statement on North Korea. DG Lee said the R [...] |
2006-11-09 08:26:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | MNUC KNNP PREL KN APECO |
| 06SEOUL3881 |
URI PARTY REP. CHUN JUNG-BAE ON NORTH KOREA AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a November 6 meeting with the Ambassador, Uri Representative Chun Jung-bae made his case why the Uri Party has a chance to maintain the Blue House in next year's presidential election and why he might be the person to lead the Uri Party charge. Chun, the former Justice Ministe [...] |
2006-11-09 09:20:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL ABLD KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3882 |
ROK TO ANNOUNCE POSITION ON PSI NOVEMBER 13, 2006 [...] (S) On Saturday, November 11, Deputy Foreign Minister for Policy Planning and International Organizations, Park In-kook, met with the Charge and POL-MIL Chief to preview the following ROK announcement -- planned for release at 15:00 (Seoul Time) on November 13 -- on South Korea's participation [...] |
2006-11-11 04:40:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PARM PREL MNUC KNNP CH KN KS JA |
| 06SEOUL3885 |
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE KOH GUN ON NORTH KOREA, [...] (C) Summary: Over lunch with the DCM and PolMinCouns on November 9, former Prime Minister Goh Kun, among the leading candidates in the 2007 presidential election, emphasized that his experience as acting President in 2004 made him realize that national security was the most important consider [...] |
2006-11-13 00:36:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3891 |
ASSISTING NORTH KOREANS IN NORTHEAST CHINA: ONE GROUP'S STORY [...] (C) Crossing Borders (protect) is a Christian organization that provides assistance to North Korean migrants and refugees in Yanji, China. American citizen Mike Kim (KIM Sun-jung), approached the Embassy on November 1 to discuss his organization's operations in Chin [...] |
2006-11-13 06:42:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF KTIP KN KS CH PHUM |
| 06SEOUL3898 |
ROK "SUPPORTS" PSI "PURPOSE AND PRINCIPLES" [...] (C) Summary: In a November 13 meeting, Blue House National Security Advisor Park Sun-won conveyed the ROKG's final position on the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which states that the ROKG "supports the purpose and principles of the initiative but will implement it in accordance with [...] |
2006-11-13 09:37:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MNUC KNNP KS |
| 06SEOUL3899 |
ROKG IMPLEMENTATION OF UNSCR 1718: TEXT OF REPORT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Unification jointly announced at 1500 on November 13 the ROKG "Report of the Republic of Korea on the Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 (2006)." The twelve-page report (see text below) comprises a [...] |
2006-11-13 09:48:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3915 |
TREASURY DEPUTY SECRETARY KIMMITT-ROKG TALKS ON [...] (C) Summary: On November 8, Treasury Deputy Secretary Robert Kimmitt met Foreign Minister-Designate Song Min-soon and other ROKG officials to review the DPRK's Banco Delta Asia (BDA) case -- and alert them to similar law enforcement problems created by Iranian financial entities. (These talk [...] |
2006-11-14 04:56:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EFIN KNNP PARM PINS CH KS KN IR |
| 06SEOUL3916 |
TREASURY DEPUTY SECRETARY KIMMITT MEETS ROKG ON [...] (C) Summary. On November 8, Treasury Deputy Secretary Robert Kimmitt met National Security Advisor and Foreign Minister-Designate Song Min-soon, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM-Finance and Economy) Kwon O-kyu, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) Special Representative for Korean Pen [...] |
2006-11-14 04:56:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EAID ECON EFIN EINV ETRD PGOV PREL KS IZ AF |
| 06SEOUL3922 |
SCENESETTER FOR U.S.- ROK MINISTERIAL AT APEC [...] (C) Madam Secretary: Your November 18 meeting with South Korean National Security Advisor and Foreign Minister-designate Song Min-soon comes as the Republic of Korea (ROK) has entered a period of significant transition. In the foreign policy arena, change began with the October 9 DPRK nuclear [...] |
2006-11-14 05:42:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MNUC KNNP KN KS |
| 06SEOUL393 |
ROK CHIEF SECRETARY SONG REITERATES ROK SUPPORT ON [...] No summary [...] |
2006-02-03 07:46:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MNUC KNNP KS |
| 06SEOUL394 |
TRAVELING GNP LAWMAKERS SEEK TO REAFFIRM US TIES [...] (SBU) Rep. Kim Deog-ryong, one of the opposition Grand National Party's (GNP) most senior lawmakers, told the Ambassador on February 1 that he and five other GNP Assembly Members intended to travel to Washington February 7 to 10 to emphasize the strength of the bilateral U.S.-ROK relationship [...] |
2006-02-03 08:47:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PNUC KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3962 |
ROK TO OPPOSE BELARUS ANTI-U.S. RESOLUTIONS [...] (C) On November 15, poloff delivered reftel points, urging capitals to vote against three retaliatory resolutions sponsored by Belarus in the UN Third Committee, to Jang Hyun-cheol, Deputy Director of MOFAT's Human Rights and Social Affairs Division. Jang explained that Seoul had already info [...] |
2006-11-15 22:48:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KS BO |
| 06SEOUL3970 |
U/S JOSEPH NONPROLIFERATION TALKS WITH AMBASSADOR [...] (S) Under Secretary Joseph and his delegation met with Deputy Foreign Minister for Policy Planning and International Organizations, Park In-kook, on November 7 to discuss implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1718, the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), an [...] |
2006-11-17 02:33:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PARM PREL MNUC MARR JA KS KN CH IR |
| 06SEOUL3975 |
DEPARTING UNIFICATION MINISTER URGES FLEXIBILITY [...] (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador on November 16, Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok reconfirmed that the ROKG would support the UN resolution on DPRK human rights. Noting his awareness of USG disappointment with the ROKG's November 13 announcement on PSI, Lee told the Ambassador that Seou [...] |
2006-11-17 05:06:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PARM KS KN |
| 06SEOUL398 |
MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, POLICIES, AND REGULATORY [...] Korea has made significant progress in addressing the need for environmental protection since the early 1990's. In preparation for upcoming trade negotiations, this report provides background information on Korea's environmental laws, policies and regulatory systems, and provides indicators r [...] |
2006-02-05 22:45:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV ETRD KS |
| 06SEOUL3992 |
HEARINGS IN THE ASSEMBLY FOR FM, MOU, DEFMIN GO [...] (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister-designate Song Min-soon, Defense Minister-designate Kim Jang-soo and Unification Minister-designate Lee Jae-jeong all passed through committee hearings in the National Assembly with relative ease on November 16 and 17. The Assembly has no power to stop cabinet n [...] |
2006-11-17 08:41:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL3993 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: IRANIAN PROCUREMENT OF [...] (S) On November 17 poloff delivered reftel points to Kim, Jae-Woo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT)'s Disarmament and Nonproliferation Division. Kim said this was the first he had heard of the May 2006 incident and could not confirm the accuracy of the press reports. He a [...] |
2006-11-17 08:46:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PARM PREL ETTC IR |
| 06SEOUL3995 |
ROKG EXPLAINS VOTE FOR NOVEMBER 17 ESS RESOLUTION [...] (SBU) On November 17, poloff delivered reftel demarche, urging capitals to vote against or abstain on an unbalanced draft resolution on Israel that was to be proposed later that day at an Emergency Special Session (ESS) of the UNGA, to Lee Kyung-chul, Deputy Director of the UN Division, Minist [...] |
2006-11-20 01:16:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL UNGA KS IS |
| 06SEOUL3997 |
DPRK SANCTIONS: CASH FLOW FROM ROKG PROJECTS FALLS [...] No summary [...] |
2006-11-20 02:41:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON PREL EINV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL3999 |
OPPOSITION CHAIRMAIN CLARIFIES OPCON REMARKS [...] (C) The Ambassador met with opposition GNP Chairman Kang Jae-sup on November 16 to discuss Kang's November 8 address to the National Assembly which was critical of the transfer of Wartime Operational Control (OPCON) to the ROK. Although Kang clarified that he remained supportive of the princi [...] |
2006-11-20 06:16:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL4014 |
LEE MYUNG-BAK: THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF KOREA? [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a November 20 meeting with the DCM, former Seoul Mayor and leading presidential hopeful Lee Myung-bak said that the December, 2007 ROK presidential elections will be about the economy above all else. He said the Korean economy should be growing at a 7 percent rate instead of [...] |
2006-11-21 05:24:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL ABLD KS KN |
| 06SEOUL4034 |
STATE OF THE UNIONS [...] (SBU) Facing declining union membership and fears that the KORUS FTA may further weaken the plight of the working class in Korea, the two largest trade union umbrella organizations in Korea, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), are very [...] |
2006-11-22 06:43:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB ECON ETRD KS |
| 06SEOUL4036 |
CHUNG DONG-YOUNG: STILL HOPING TO BE KOREA'S NEXT [...] (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador, former Unification Minister and Uri Party Chairman Chung Dong-young discussed the resumption of the Six Party Talks, state of the KORUS FTA, future of the Uri party, and the recent elections in the U.S. Chung was confident that the Uri Party could still p [...] |
2006-11-22 07:20:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL4039 |
FORMER PRIME MINISTER KIM JONG-PIL'S LAST [...] (C) SUMMARY: Former Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil told the Ambassador on November 16 that U.S.-ROK relations were paramount and that the administration had to change in 2007. Kim said he would support the GNP candidate, whoever that may be, provided that he/she agreed to "sweep out the debris" o [...] |
2006-11-22 07:48:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL ABLD KS KN |
| 06SEOUL4040 |
AMBASSADOR'S FARWELL CALL ON OUTGOING ROK DEFENSE [...] (C) SUMMARY: During the Ambassador's November 22 office call on outgoing ROK Defense Minister Yoon, Kwang-ung: -- The Ambassador thanked Yoon for his leadership, enhancement of South Korea's global role, and support for the alliance and its transformation. -- Yoon acknowledged the import [...] |
2006-11-22 08:06:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MNUC KNNP KN KS |
| 06SEOUL4057 |
MOFAT SUPPORTS TROOP EXTENSION IN IRAQ AND UNIFIL DISPATCH TO LEBANON [...] (C) On November 24, MOFAT Director-General for American Affairs Cho Tae-yong told A/DCM that President Roh's administration had decided to submit a motion to the National Assembly requesting authorization for a one-year extension of ROK troop deployment in Iraq, but at a lower force level. In [...] |
2006-11-24 07:01:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ LE KS UNGA |
| 06SEOUL4073 |
SEJONG INSTITUTE PRESIDENT BAEK JONG-CHUN EXPECTED [...] (U) SUMMARY: President Roh Moo-hyun this week is expected to name Baek Jong-chun, currently President of the government-supported Sejong Institute, as National Security Advisor to replace Song Min-soon, who is becoming Foreign Minister. Baek's appointment will mark the completion of Roh's na [...] |
2006-11-27 09:08:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR KS KN |
| 06SEOUL4075 |
NGO TB PROJECT GAINING DPRK BUY-IN [...] (C) In a November 24 briefing for the Ambassador, Dr. Stephen Linton, Chairman of the EugeneBell Foundation, described a recent two-week mission in the DPRK to oversee EugeneBell medical assistance programs. He reported on improved access to facilities and increased North Korean receptivity [...] |
2006-11-28 00:58:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PGOV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL4094 |
MORE SIGNS OF ERODING AUTHORITY: PRESIDENT ROH [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Roh withdrew the nomination of Jeon Hyo-seok for Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court on November 27 amid fierce opposition to the controversial nomination. After insisting for months Jeon's nomination, Roh finally backed down when it became clear that unless he w [...] |
2006-11-28 08:28:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV |