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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01HANOI2114 | VIETNAM PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO KOREA [...] (U) CLASSIFIED BY: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES DENNIS CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HANOI 02114 281005Z HARTER, REASON: 1.5 (B) AND (D) 2. (C) PRESIDENT TRAN DUC LUONG'S VISIT TO THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA RECEIVED EXTENSIVE AND USUALLY FRONT PAGE COVERAGE IN THE VIETNAM PRESS, [...] |
2001-08-28 08:53:00 | Embassy Hanoi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD KS VM ASEAN |
| 01HANOI2967 | VIETNAM-NORTH KOREA: RELATIONS CONTINUE TO THAW [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. THE SRV/DPRK JOINT ECONOMIC, SCIENTIFIC, AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MET IN PYONGYANG FROM OCTOBER 15-19 FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE VIETNAM OPENED BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH SOUTH KOREA IN 1992. WHILE PRESS REPORTS TOUTED THE MEETING AS "HERALDING A COMPLETE REVIVAL OF BILATERAL TR [...] |
2001-11-14 04:09:00 | Embassy Hanoi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ETRD VM KN KS DPRK |
| 01VATICAN1615 | VATICAN - "VIEWS FROM THE HILL" [...] (U) THE MARCH 17 - 23 EDITION OF NEWS AND VIEWS FROM VATICAN CITY. CONTENTS: - SOUTH KOREAN ARCHBISHOP LIKES POTUS RECIPE FOR KOREA - VATICAN OFFICIAL CONFIRMS PAPAL VISIT TO ATHENS - PAPAL SUPPORT FOR ARAB CHRISTIANS - VATICAN ADMITS NUNS SEXUALLY ABUSED BY PRIESTS ----------------- [...] |
2001-03-23 13:28:00 | Embassy Vatican | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM SOCI IS GR KN KS VT MEPP VTPREL |
| 02HANOI1181 | GVN PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO NORTH KOREA [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. PRESIDENT TRAN DUC LUONG'S VISIT TO NORTH KOREA (DPRK) PROVIDED ANOTHER AT LEAST COSMETIC INDICATOR OF THE CONTINUING THAW IN BILATERAL RELATIONS. WHILE THE TWO COUNTRIES SIGNED A NUMBER OF AGREEMENTS, MOST APPEAR TO HAVE LITTLE PRACTICAL APPLICATION. THE PROBABILITY OF ANY [...] |
2002-05-13 07:33:00 | Embassy Hanoi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ETRD PHUM VM KN KS DPRK |
| 02ROME5830 | WFP LAUNCHES NORTH KOREA EMERGENCY OPERATION FOR [...] ON DECEMBER 2, WORLD FOOD PROGRAM LAUNCHED ITS 2003 EMERGENCY OPERATION (EMOP) FOR NORTH KOREA - ONE YEAR UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 05830 01 OF 03 031555Z (JANUARY- DECEMBER 2003), VALUED AT USD 201.08 MILLION, TO ASSIST 6.4 MILLION PEOPLE - MAINLY WOMEN AND [...] |
2002-12-03 14:24:00 | Embassy Rome | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN KS UN |
| 02VATICAN3637 | AID AND ADVOCACY FOR NORTH KOREA - VATICAN AGENCY [...] (SBU) CATHOLIC CHURCH AID AGENCY CONFEDERATION CARITAS INTERNATIONALIS (CI) REPORTS NORTH KOREA'S HUMANITARIAN CRISIS CONTINUES WITH MORE THAN SIX MILLION PEOPLE FACING ACUTE SHORTAGES OF FOOD, MEDICINES, AND DRINKING WATER (REFTEL). CI IS SEEKING WAYS TO ATTRACT MORE DONORS AS PLEDGES FROM [...] |
2002-07-23 15:01:00 | Embassy Vatican | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAID KN KS VT |
| 03BRUSSELS5510 | EU TROIKA DEC 9-12 VISIT TO PYONGYANG [...] (C) Summary. Senior EU officials will visit Pyongyang December 9-12 to convey EU support for the Six Party Talks; EU interest in improving ROK-DPRK relations in order to coordinate peninsular development; the need to respect human rights; and the need to begin a process of economic reforms. [...] |
2003-12-05 14:12:00 | Embassy Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PARM KNNP EAID KS CH KN EUN USEU BRUSSELS |
| 03HANOI2650 | POLITICS AND MONEY: VIETNAM AND THE KOREAS [...] (SBU) Summary: Vietnam's relationships with both Koreas are growing. ROK-Vietnam relations are likely to continue to expand, especially economically, while Hanoi-Pyongyang relations will develop more slowly. Vietnamese interlocutors are discouraged by their lack of access to or influence on [...] |
2003-10-17 00:19:00 | Embassy Hanoi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PARM ETRD ECON VM KN KS SW DPRK ASEAN |
| 03HANOI2790 | VIETNAM TRYING TO CONVINCE PYONGYANG ON [...] (U) Summary: Vietnam continues to encourage North Korea to follow the same path of economic reforms Vietnam has successfully implemented but remains mostly circumspect on other issues like disarmament or the Six Party Talks. End Summary. 2. (U) Deputy Foreign Minister Le Van Bang, respo [...] |
2003-10-31 06:17:00 | Embassy Hanoi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL EAID ECON KN KS VM DPRK |
| 03KUWAIT3138 | NORTH KOREA TO OPEN EMBASSY IN KUWAIT [...] No summary [...] |
2003-07-14 14:31:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KU KN KS |
| 03ROME5222 | Current readout on 2003 funding for WFP's North [...] As of mid-October, WFP had resourced 288,901 metric tons of food assistance (valued at USD 86.6 million) against its calendar year 2003 appeal for 513,096 metric tons. Principal donors include: Republic of Korea, 100,000 mts; Russian Federation, 40,463 mts; European Commission-ECHO, 46,285 mts [...] |
2003-11-19 10:12:00 | Embassy Rome | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN KS UN |
| 03ROME5625 | END OF YEAR NORTH KOREA HUMANITARIAN WRAP-UP [...] (SBU) Recent press reports, WFP requests, inquiries from other donors and Assistant Secretary Boucher's comments have focused attention on the continuing humanitarian crisis in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). WFP has renewed its request for a favorable decision on the remai [...] |
2003-12-16 15:09:00 | Embassy Rome | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN KS UN |
| 03ROME5694 | ITALY: 2004 REPORT TO CONGRESS ON ALLIED [...] (U) The following is Rome's contribution to the 2004 burdensharing report to Congress. For the purpose of this cable, US. dollar amounts are calculated at the exchange rate of USD 1 = Euro .90 except when noted. Embassy point of contact for this report is Pol-Mil Officer Susanne Rose, tel: [...] |
2003-12-23 11:24:00 | Embassy Rome | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | JA KS KU MCAP PREL SA US MARR IT QU TC NATO |
| 03ROME5705 | WFP plea for North Korea humanitarian food [...] (SBU) WFP Executive Director Jim Morris has written his second letter this month to Secretary Powell (this one posted from Beijing) focusing attention on the continuing humanitarian crisis in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and WFP's renewed request for a favorable decision on [...] |
2003-12-23 16:29:00 | Embassy Rome | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN KS UN |
| 03ROME791 | WFP/UNICEF DPR KOREA NUTRITION SURVEY SHOWS MARKED [...] MALNUTRITION RATES AMONG CHILDREN IN THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA (DPRK) HAVE DECLINED CONSIDERABLY OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY RELEASED BY WFP AND UNICEF ON FEBRUARY 20, CONJOINTLY WITH THE HOST GOVERNMENT'S CENTRAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS AND INSTITUTE OF CHIL [...] |
2003-02-26 05:46:00 | Embassy Rome | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN KS UN |
| 03SEOUL5653 | ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT FOR KOREA [...] No summary [...] |
2003-11-28 01:27:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER KS |
| 03STATE8026 | A/S KELLY DISCUSSES KOREA, BILATERAL RELATIONS [...] (C) A/S KELLY BRIEFED AMBASSADOR YANG JIECHI JANUARY 9 ON LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR APPROACH TO NORTH KOREA, PREVIEWED HIS UPCOMING TRIP TO THE REGION AND DISCUSSED OVERALL BILATERAL RELATIONS. ON KOREA, KELLY STRESSED U.S. TACTICAL FLEXIBILITY IN FOCUSING ON OUR KEY OBJECTIVE, WHICH WAS TO [...] |
2003-01-10 00:05:00 | Secretary of State | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CH KN KS |
| 03THEHAGUE2685 | CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): WRAP-UP FOR [...] (U) Informal budget discussions on Oct. 16 broke little new ground, and the stage is set for last-minute negotiations during CSP-8. DG Pfirter was in attendance and reiterated his call for a 7.36% increase. France stated that it had sent the DG's proposals and his calculations on the impact [...] |
2003-10-22 15:22:00 | Embassy The Hague | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL UK KS CWC |
| 03VATICAN5264 | VATICAN-NORTH KOREA CONTACTS ON HOLD PENDING [...] (C) THE HOLY SEE'S OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA, MONSIGNOR LUIS MONTEMAYOR, TOLD DCM NOVEMBER 18 THAT THE VATICAN'S PERIODIC SENIOR LEVEL CONTACTS WITH PYONGYANG WERE IN SUSPENSION PENDING THE RESULTS OF THE SIX-PARTY TALKS ON NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR ARMS PROGRAM. THE HOLY SEE HOPED [...] |
2003-11-20 07:13:00 | Embassy Vatican | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF KN KS PHUM PREL VT |
| 04AMMAN6760 | JORDAN'S KING ABDULLAH VISITS ASIA SEEKING TRADE, [...] (U) SUMMARY: King Abdullah's swing through Asia was aimed at diversifying the Kingdom's trade and investment partners and seeking bilateral assistance. The King succeeded in obtaining several grants and loans from China and South Korea; Jordan and Korea also signed a tax treaty. The King's [...] |
2004-08-11 13:36:00 | Embassy Amman | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD EINV EAID JO CH KS TH |
| 04ANKARA4440 | TUAF QUESTIONNAIRE ON SPACE COOPERATION [...] (U) This cable contains sensitive business information. Please protect accordingly. 2. (U) This is an action request -- see para 4. 3. (SBU) On July 27, the Turkish General Staff (TGS) conveyed to DAO Ankara a questionnaire from Turkish Air Force (TUAF) Command regarding space cooperatio [...] |
2004-08-06 16:16:00 | Embassy Ankara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | MASS MARR PINR TSPA FR IS KS TU UK |
| 04ANKARA453 | KOREAN TROOPS TO NORTHERN IRAQ: NEED TO BRIEF PM [...] (U) This is an action request. See para 4. 2. (C) DCM confirmed January 22 that PM Erdogan will travel to Seoul to meet with Korean officials February 7. 3. (C) PM Erdogan may already know (possibly from information obtained by the Turkish military liaison officers stationed in nort [...] |
2004-01-23 13:22:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR TU IZ KS |
| 04ANKARA5005 | TUAF RESPONSE TO USG POINTS ON SATELLITE REMOTE [...] (SBU) On September 1, Deputy PolMilCouns delivered Ref. A talking points to the MFA's Americas Desk and the Turkish Air Force (TUAF) Aerospace Division. The MFA's Americas Desk Deputy Director professed to be unaware of the TUAF questionnaire and accepted the points without comment. While pr [...] |
2004-09-07 07:38:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | MASS MARR PINR TSPA ETTC PARM IS KS FR TU UK |
| 04ANKARA6482 | TURKISH-NORTH KOREAN ECONOMIC AGREEMENT SIGNED [...] (SBU) Turkey's Foreign Trade (FTU) Undersecretary and the North Korean Ambassador to Bulgaria and Turkey signed a trade and economic cooperation agreement in Ankara on November 12. Two-way trade, valued at less than USD 5 million, is minuscule. Osman Bekaroglu, FT's Deputy Director General for [...] |
2004-11-19 14:52:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD KN KS TU |
| 04HANOI2594 | CPV ON HUMAN RIGHTS, CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, KOREA [...] (SBU) Summary: In a meeting with visiting SFRC staffer Frank Jannuzi, CPV officials said human rights and democracy were secondary priorities for Vietnam behind meeting the population's basic material needs; that freedom to operate in the Central Highlands would be especially slow in coming fo [...] |
2004-09-16 09:34:00 | Embassy Hanoi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV PREF OTRA KN KS VM ETMIN HUMANR DPRK |
| 04HOCHIMINHCITY1024 | (SBU) DPRK REFUGEE "UNDERGROUND RAILROAD" RUNS THROUGH [...] (SBU) We met August 3 with a counterpart at the ROK Consulate in HCMC to follow up on press reports that the four hundred and fifty North Korean refugees that defected recently to South Korea did so via HCMC. (On July 27 and July 28, 450 North Koreans refugees arrived in Seoul, the single lar [...] |
2004-08-05 01:17:00 | Consulate Ho Chi Minh City | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREF SOCI PREL PGOV KS KN CH VM DPRK |
| 04NEWDELHI7053 | LOOKING AHEAD TO ASEAN: INDIA ENGAGES EAST ASIA [...] (C) Summary: The GOI has engaged actively with East Asian capitals prior to the November 30 ASEAN Plus One Summit in Laos. India's two-track approach to these states--multilaterally through organizations like ASEAN, and bilaterally--exemplifies New Delhi's strategy of expanding economic and [...] |
2004-11-05 05:25:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL TH VM BM LA KS JA IN ASEAN |
| 04NEWDELHI8192 | MEA STATEMENTS AND BRIEFINGS: MALAYSIA, SLOVAKIA, [...] Summary: This is another of our periodic messages summarizing public statements by MEA Spokesman Navtej Sarna and other MEA officials. Here we report Malaysian Prime Minister Badawi's and Slovak President Gasparovic's visits to India, Foreign Minister Natwar Singh's trip to South Korea and [...] |
2004-12-28 11:21:00 | Embassy New Delhi | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KNNP TSPA MY LO KS PK BG BM CE NP IN GOI |
| 04RANGOON88 | BURMA: RUMORS OF CONSTRUCTION OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR [...] (S/NF) An expatriate businessmanXXXXXXXXXXXX recently volunteered to an Embassy Officer that he had heard rumors that a nuclear reactor was being built near Minbu, in central Magway Division on the Irawaddy River. The businessman added that he personally had seen a "massive" barge containing large- [...] |
2004-01-20 09:44:00 | Embassy Rangoon | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PARM PREL BM RS KS KNPP |
| 04ROME2854 | JAPANESE DONATION OF 250,000 METRIC TONS FOR WFP'S [...] (SBU) WFP advised US Mission that Japan will donate 250,000 tons of cereals to WFP's 2004 emergency operation (EMOP) in North Korea, with delivery over the period August- September/October 2004. The value of the donation is up to U.S. $80 million. Final details of the transaction have been sen [...] |
2004-07-23 04:21:00 | Embassy Rome | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID PREL PREF EAGR ECON KN KS UN |
| 04THEHAGUE1845 | CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): RABTA [...] (SBU) In the aftermath of EC-37, delegation has been working closely with UK, Italy, and Libya, to facilitate and garner support for Libya's proposed change to the Verification Annex of the CWC, to enable the conversion of its former CW production facility at Rabta. In particular the delegati [...] |
2004-07-22 14:27:00 | Embassy The Hague | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PARM PREL AG CM ER UK IT KE MO SF TS YM SU GM FR GR KS CWC |
| 04THEHAGUE2677 | NETHERLANDS/EU/KOREA: DUTCH ON EU SUMMIT WITH [...] (SBU) Both MFA Korea Desk officer and South Korea Embassy officer told poloffs that the EU-South Korea Summit held in Hanoi on October 9 was so brief -- lasting only two hours including interpretation -- that participants did not have enough time to cover all of the issues included in the leng [...] |
2004-10-15 14:50:00 | Embassy The Hague | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL NL KS KN EUN |
| 04VATICAN2890 | NORTH KOREA: CATHOLIC RELIEF AGENCY BUILDING [...] (C) The Holy See's North Korea Country Director told us July 9 that Caritas has reinforced its traditional emergency food aid programs with training programs for local North Korean officials. The Vatican is cautiously optimistic that this focus on relationship building will create a greater [...] |
2004-07-26 13:17:00 | Embassy Vatican | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM EAID PGOV KN VT KS KIRF |
| 05BANGKOK3590 | THAILAND: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON SUSPENSION OF [...] (C) On May 27, PolCouns conveyed reftel para 8 talking points to Chakarin Chayabongse, Deputy Director General, East Asian Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Chakarin expressed appreciation for the official notification of suspension of the U.S. remains recovery program in N [...] |
2005-06-01 10:29:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KN KS TH DPRK |
| 05BANGKOK3704 | THAILAND-DPRK RELATIONS: RTG SEES ITSELF AS [...] No summary [...] |
2005-06-06 10:41:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PARM PHUM KN KS TH DPRK |
| 05BANGKOK3744 | GUIDANCE REGARDING TWO NORTH KOREAN SISTERS IN [...] (C) Per ref a request, on June 7 Refcoord told UNHCR Regional Representative Hasim Utkan that the U.S. would consider refugee referrals of the two North Korean sisters reportedly in Cambodia if UNHCR determines that it is in their best interest to travel to the United States. 2. (C) Utkan s [...] |
2005-06-07 08:19:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PHUM KN KS CB DPRK |
| 05BANGKOK5214 | SIX-PARTY TALKING POINTS DELIVERED/FOREIGN [...] (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel talking points to Surapon Petch-Vra, Director of East Asian Affairs - North and South Korea; Piroon Laismit, Director of East Asian Affairs - China and Japan; and Amornsate Singha, Director North America at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Points were received [...] |
2005-08-15 08:00:00 | Embassy Bangkok | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KNNP PARM KN KS TH |
| 05BANGKOK5937 | UNHCR UPDATE ON DPRK REFUGEE IN THAILAND [...] (C) Summary. North Korean refugee Mr. Park Tae-Hung continues to reside in Thailand illegally and appears to have moved from Pattaya to Bangkok. UNHCR has been in sporadic contact with him since June and is prepared to refer him on an immediate basis to the ROK Embassy for resettlement. End [...] |
2005-09-15 08:15:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL TH KN KS DPRK |
| 05BANGKOK656 | NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM SEEKER IN VIENTIANE [...] (C) Summary and comment. UNHCR/UNDP cannot issue a travel document for North Korean asylum seeker Anh, but is prepared to assist in resolving this case in terms of providing transportation within Thailand, housing, and other assistance agreed upon by concerned governments. ICRC Bangkok repre [...] |
2005-01-25 10:36:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC PGOV PREF PREL KN KS LA TH DPRK |
| 05BANGKOK690 | ICRC AND NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM SEEKER IN VIENTIANE [...] (C) Fred Grimm, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Head of Regional Delegation, told Embassy Bangkok today that ICRC is not/not willing to issue a laissez-passer (LP) to North Korean asylum seeker An Kyong Su. Grimm said that, after consultations with both the ICRC representa [...] |
2005-01-27 00:24:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC PGOV PREF PREL KN KS TH DPRK LA |
| 05BANGKOK752 | DPRK ASYLUM SEEKER -- MOVING FORWARD [...] (C) In response to reftel, Refcoord informed UNHCR Chief Protection Officer Kirsten Young on January 27 of the latest developments in the case of DPRK asylum seeker Anh and asked what assistance UNHCR would be able to provide in the resolution of this issue. Reiterataing earlier commitments m [...] |
2005-01-28 07:22:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV PREL ASEC KN KS LA TH DPRK |
| 05BANGKOK802 | AMBASSADOR-FM SURAKIART ON NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM SEEKER IN VIENTIANE [...] (C) On January 28, while in Phuket for Thai-hosted conference on a tsunami early warning system (EWS), the Ambassador spoke with Foreign Minister Surakiart about Ahn Kyong Su, the North Korean asylum seeker in Embassy Vientiane. The Ambassador noted that the Lao government would not allow tra [...] |
2005-01-31 10:20:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PHUM ASEC KS KN TH DPRK LA |
| 05CANBERRA354 | COMMANDER OF UN FORCES IN KOREA GENERAL LAPORTE [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer on February 16, U.S. General Leon LaPorte, Commander of the UN Command in Korea, described the dramatic changes taking place in the ROK, in particular at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), where the UN Command's role is a [...] |
2005-02-24 06:39:00 | Embassy Canberra | SECRET//NOFORN | MARR PARM PREL KNNP AS KS KN IAEA |
| 05CANBERRA882 | EAP A/S HILL'S MEETING WITH FOREIGN AFFAIRS [...] (S) EAP Assistant Secretary Christopher R. Hill told Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Secretary Michael L'Estrange on May 17 that there was a SIPDIS growing sense of urgency in Washington about the DPRK's nuclear program. L'Estrange agreed that the current state of [...] |
2005-05-24 04:24:00 | Embassy Canberra | SECRET | PREL MNUC AS KN CH KS JA ID ARF |
| 05HANOI1179 | VIETNAM-DPRK TIES: OPPORTUNITIES FOR AND [...] (C) The Vietnam-DPRK bilateral relationship, although strained by last year's "mass defection" of North Korean asylum-seekers from Ho Chi Minh City to Seoul, is slowly returning to normal. Vietnam recognizes that its "traditional ties" with the North, combined with its proximity to China and [...] |
2005-05-19 09:59:00 | Embassy Hanoi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PREF PARM PHUM KN KS VM DPRK |
| 05HANOI1666 | DPRK Asylum-seekers Depart Hanoi [...] (SBU) ROK Embassy First Secretary (Political) Lee Kang- kuk confirmed June 27 that the seven North Korean asylum- seekers in the Thai Embassy departed Hanoi for Seoul via Bangkok on June 23. According to Lee, the RTG provided the seven with travel documents in the form of "Emergency Certifica [...] |
2005-06-27 07:57:00 | Embassy Hanoi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PREF ASEC KN KS TH VM DPRK |
| 05LAGOS1518 | CHINESE AND SOUTH KOREAN FIRMS BIDDING FOR RAIL [...] (C) Summary. Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Managing Director Abubakar told us competing Chinese and South Korean firms were interested in constructing new rail lines and upgrading existing lines. Sometime in October, the NRC would chose the group with which it will partner. By the end o [...] |
2005-09-29 12:59:00 | Consulate Lagos | CONFIDENTIAL | ELTN ECON PGOV PREL NI CH KS XB |
| 05MANILA249 | NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES IN THE PHILIPPINES [...] (U) North Koreans have access to the same international protection offered other refugee groups in the Philippines. The Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia to have signed the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees and to have an institutionalized regime of refugee protection. The Depar [...] |
2005-01-14 08:43:00 | Embassy Manila | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM KN KS RP |
| 05MANILA5799 | SENATOR BOND'S DECEMBER 9 MEETING WITH PRESIDENT [...] (C) Summary. U.S. Senator Christopher S. Bond, accompanied by CDA Paul W. Jones, met with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on December 9. President Arroyo pledged support for U.S. trade liberalization proposals at the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Hong Kong and for the U.S. efforts to encoura [...] |
2005-12-13 09:23:00 | Embassy Manila | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER ETRD EINV RP BM CH KS |
| 05NEWDELHI140 | REQUEST FOR INDIAN MPAT PLANNERS AND LIAISON [...] (C) This message responds to State action request: ref 060115Z Jan 05 SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR COUNTRY LIAISON OFFICERS FOR TSUNAMI ASSISTANCE AND PACOM REQUEST. 2. (C) Based on directions in cable (ref para 1), and communications between USPACOM J-5, OSD, and USDAO New Delhi, Ambassador t [...] |
2005-01-06 14:35:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | AS CA CE FR GM IR JA KS MARR MOPS MY PREL SN TH |
| 05NEWDELHI6594 | MEA STICKS WITH TWIN PILLARS, SKEPTICAL ON UN [...] (C) A skeptical MEA Joint Secretary (North) Ranjit Rae told A/DCM on August 26 that the GOI will receive UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi in New Delhi on August 30, but was puzzled by what the UN might expect to accomplish in Nepal. In contrast to reports in Kathmandu and among non-governmental India [...] |
2005-08-26 12:45:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM IN NP CH KS |
| 05NEWDELHI9409 | GOI INTERESTED IN US SPONSORED IMO DONOR CONFERENCE [...] (U) Poloff delivered Ref A demarche to MEA D/S (Disarmament and International Security) Naveen Srivastava, who commented that the Ministry of Defense had indicated interest in such a conference. 2. (C) PolCouns followed up with Joint Secretary (DISA) Hamid Ali Rao on December 14, who also [...] |
2005-12-14 13:23:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PHSA PBTS EWWT PTER GM IN KS |
| 05PARIS4977 | MISSILE TECHNOLOGY CONTROL REGIME: 06 JULY [...] (C) Summary: On 6 July 2005, Embassy EST officer attended a meeting of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Points of Contacts (POCS) held at the Korean Embassy in Paris. This meeting focused on preparations for the September MTCR Plenary in Madrid. 2. (C) Summary, Continued: [...] |
2005-07-19 12:02:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | ETTC FR KS KSCA MNUC PARM PREL TSPA MTCRE |
| 05PARIS675 | MISSILE TECHNOLOGY CONTROL REGIME: 19 JANUARY [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a 19 January 2005 meeting of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Points of Contacts (POCS) at the residence of the Norwegian Ambassador to France, members were provided with updates and had constructive discussions of a wide-range of MTCR issues. These included a [...] |
2005-02-02 18:29:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | ETTC FR KS KSCA MNUC PARM PREL TSPA MTCRE |
| 05PARIS7961 | MISSILE TECHNOLOGY CONTROL REGIME: 20 OCTOBER [...] (C) Summary: On 20 October 2005, ESTH/NP officer attended a meeting of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Points of Contacts (POCS) at the Spanish Embassy in Paris. This meeting focused on reviewing results of the September MTCR Plenary in Madrid and on briefing partners on the a [...] |
2005-11-22 15:22:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | ETTC FR KS KSCA MNUC PARM PREL TSPA MTCRE |
| 05PARIS8247 | USUNESCO: KOREAN DMZ: NO MECHANISM EXISTS TO [...] The 17 November public suggestion of Ted Turner of the United Foundations Foundation at a New York City event to designate the Korean DMZ as a World Heritage Site was unworkable, South Korean UNESCO rep Ki-Joung Cho told poloff in a 1 Dec office call, even though a great majority of South Kor [...] |
2005-12-05 17:48:00 | Embassy Paris | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV SCUL MARR CJAN CH KS UNESCO |
| 05SINGAPORE1789 | DEPUTY SECRETARY ZOELLICK'S MAY 10 MEETING WITH [...] (U) Classified by: Ambassador Franklin L. Lavin. Reason 1.4(d) 2. (U) Date Time and Place: May 10, 2005, 5:00PM, Istana, Singapore 3. (U) Participants: U.S. ---- The Deputy Secretary Ambassador Franklin Lavin E/P Counselor Laurent Charbonnet (Notetaker) SINGAPORE --------- [...] |
2005-06-07 08:37:00 | Embassy Singapore | CONFIDENTIAL | OVIP PREL PGOV ECON KNNP ETTC CH TW KS IN IZ |
| 05TAIPEI3372 | Taiwan Seized large amount of Endangered Tiger [...] Summary. On July 1, 2005 at the Port of Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung Customs seized a large amount of tiger bones that were smuggled into Taiwan from Jakarta. Local law enforcement agents are questioning the importer, the owner of local Chew Long Trading Co., who may be charged for both conducting [...] |
2005-08-12 07:54:00 | American Institute Taiwan, Taipei | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR TW KS ETRD SENV ESTH |
| 05TAIPEI3533 | Fake Viagra from China Seized in Southern Taiwan [...] SUMMARY. Officials of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB), Kaohsiung County station, recently raided a trading company and its affiliated retail shop in Kaohsiung County, Taiwan, and confiscated a large quantity of ecstasy and counterfeit Viagra. The company's owner was arre [...] |
2005-08-24 08:28:00 | American Institute Taiwan, Taipei | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR ASEC EWWT ETRD PREL TW KS ESTH |
| 05THEHAGUE2580 | NETHERLANDS: IDENTIFICATIONN OF COMMERCIAL SOURCES [...] This is an action request; please see para 4. 2. In response to reftel, Post identified three possible Dutch sources of vegetarian MREs. The companies have confirmed that they produce MREs for private and public organizations. However, they were unable to confirm current stocks of vegetar [...] |
2005-09-23 05:49:00 | Embassy The Hague | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL EAID ETRD ECON AMGT NL BEXP KS JA XG |
| 05TOKYO1331 | VIEWPOINT OF THE SOUTH KOREAN EMBASSY IN TOKYO [...] (C) ROK Deputy Chief of Mission in Tokyo, Choo Kyu-ho, accompanied by First Secretary Jeong Woon-jin, conveyed his embassy's viewpoints on North Korea, China, and the status of Japan-ROK bilateral relations at a March 7, 2005 lunch with the Charge. DCM Choo presented a rather dismal assessment [...] |
2005-03-07 09:18:00 | Embassy Tokyo | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL JA KS KN CH MNNUC |
| 05TOKYO1415 | AMBASSADOR HILL DISCUSSES NORTH KOREA WITH CHIEF [...] (C) Summary. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda opened a breakfast meeting with U.S. Ambassador to South Korea and U.S. Representative to the Six-Party Talks (6PT) Christopher Hill on March 10, 2005, by thanking him for his efforts on the North Korea issue. Hosoda raised the T [...] |
2005-03-10 08:24:00 | Embassy Tokyo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KN KS JA |
| 05VANCOUVER1521 | ALIEN SMUGGLING OPERATION THWARTED [...] U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) personnel arrested a group of twelve people attempting to enter the U.S. near Oroville, Washington, on December 1. The group, consisting of seven women and five men, was arrested in a van near the Washington-British Columbia border minutes after entering t [...] |
2005-12-02 21:26:00 | Consulate Vancouver | UNCLASSIFIED | KCRM CVIS KWMN CA KS |
| 06AMMAN1100 | DEMARCHE ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEXT UN [...] (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Jamal Al-Shamayleh, deputy chief of the Foreign Ministry's International Organizations Department, during a February 13 meeting at the Foreign Ministry. Shamayleh agreed that the post of Secretary General should not be bound by a rotational system, and [...] |
2006-02-15 10:31:00 | Embassy Amman | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN KS JO |
| 06ANKARA1400 | TURKEY: POL-MIL ROUND-UP, February 2006 [...] Turkey's National Security Council (NSC) held its first meeting of 2006 on February 23. Turkey-Iran relations, February 4 IAEA decision on Iran's nuclear program, and Turkey's foreign assistance policy topped the agenda. Turkish media coverage of the meeting was wider than other months. The [...] |
2006-03-16 09:35:00 | Embassy Ankara | UNCLASSIFIED | MASS MARR PREL TU UP KS TC PK SU IR AL RU |
| 06ANKARA2083 | TURKEY: POL-MIL ROUND-UP, March 2006 [...] Chief of the Turkish General Staff (CHOD) General Hilmi Ozkok gave his annual speech to the Istanbul War Academy on March 16. He noted the importance of a cohesive domestic government in the international place of a country; underlined the importance of a sound security strategy based on a st [...] |
2006-04-17 12:37:00 | Embassy Ankara | UNCLASSIFIED | MASS MARR PREL TU UP KS TC PK SU IR AL RU |
| 06ANKARA2664 | TURKEY/DPRK: MFA BRIEFING ON DPRK VISIT TO ANKARA [...] (C) Turkish MFA Deputy Director General for Africa and East Asia Erdem Mutaf briefed several diplomatic corps representatives May 10 on MFA meetings with Democratic People's Republic of North Korea (DPRK) Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials on May 4. The DPRK had requested the visit as part [...] |
2006-05-11 14:19:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KN KS TU |
| 06ASUNCION971 | PARAGUAY ON UNSC RESOLUTION 1695 [...] No summary [...] |
2006-09-21 19:51:00 | Embassy Asuncion | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM PREL KNNP MUNC WMD KPAO PTER KN KS PA |
| 06BAGHDAD1180 | COALITION SUPPORT FOR RRT ERBIL [...] (SBU) This is an action request. Post requests that the Department issue instructions to deliver the points in paragraph six to the government of South Korea both in Washington and in Seoul on the establishment of a Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) in Erbil, Iraq. ---------- BACKGROUND [...] |
2006-04-11 17:16:00 | Embassy Baghdad | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON MOPS PREL IZ KS |
| 06BAGHDAD1181 | COALITION PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ PRTS [...] (U) Please see para 4 for an ACTION REQUEST. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Five of the eight planned U.S.-led Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) have been staffed and have received initial training: three are fully operational, one is at initial operational capability (IOC) and expected to achieve [...] |
2006-04-11 17:49:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MOPS PREL IZ AS JA PL KS ES MD LO MK |
| 06BAGHDAD181 | KOREAN INTEREST IN REGIONAL RECONSTRUCTION [...] (U) This is an action request; please see para 2. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: Korean Ambassador to Iraq Ki-ho Chang told the Ambassador January 19 that Seoul is interested in participating in, and possibly leading, the planned Kurdistan Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT). Chang as [...] |
2006-01-22 12:44:00 | Embassy Baghdad | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | MARR PINS ODIP OFDP PREL KS IZ |
| 06BAGHDAD724 | PST BAGHDAD: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES [...] INTRODUCTION: This cable is the first of many cables that Provincial Support Team - Baghdad (PST-B) will produce during the remainder of 2006. Cables from PST-B will focus on economic, political, and rule of law issues concerning Baghdad Province. 2. INTRODUCTION CONT'D: Despite a largel [...] |
2006-03-07 13:22:00 | Embassy Baghdad | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ECON EINV EAID IZ IR KS KU CH |
| 06BAGHDAD949 | CONTINUED ROK INTEREST IN PROVINCIAL [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Korean Ambassador Ki-Ho Chang met with IRMO Director Ambassador Daniel Speckhard on March 19 to gather details regarding USG intentions related to the development of the planned Erbil Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT). Chang reiterated Korean interest in the program and re [...] |
2006-03-23 08:53:00 | Embassy Baghdad | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | MARR MOPS PGOV PREL KS IZ |
| 06BANGKOK1139 | MEETING WITH SOUTH KOREAN EMBASSY ON NORTH KOREAN [...] (C) Summary. In a February 23 meeting, a South Korean Embassy official said he had received no new instructions or information from Seoul regarding U.S.-ROK discussions about North Korean refugees, including on providing assistance to the Embassy if any suitable refugee cases arose or sharing [...] |
2006-02-24 11:26:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL TH KS KN DPRK |
| 06BANGKOK2120 | EMBASSY BANGKOK NORTH KOREAN RESPONSE PLAN [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see action request para 6. 2. (C) Summary: Deputy Chief of Mission and Political Counselor, along with a team of USG members who will have a role in assisting NKs at the Embassy, met on April 10 to discuss details of the walk-in operational plan. [...] |
2006-04-11 10:34:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREF TH KN KS DPRK |
| 06BANGKOK2202 | SIX NORTH KOREANS APPROACH EMBASSY [...] (U) This is an action request. See para. 6. 2. (C) SUMMARY. Six North Koreans (NK) accompanied by two NGO representatives from the Evangelical Movement for North Korea presented themselves at U.S. Embassy Bangkok about 1100 on April 17. They were not accompanied by media and the Embassy ha [...] |
2006-04-17 11:21:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV PHUM PREL AMGT KN KS TH DPRK |
| 06BANGKOK2296 | UPDATE ON SIX NORTH KOREANS [...] (C) Summary. In an April 20 meeting, ROK Embassy officials expressed familiar concerns about U.S. resettlement of North Korean refugees but indicated that they would be prepared to help in accordance with commitments the ROKG has made to the United States. In a subsequent UNHCR-ROK Embassy m [...] |
2006-04-20 23:27:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM PREL KN KS TH DPRK |
| 06BANGKOK2329 | THAI GIVE OK ON U.S. RESETTLEMENT OF SIX NORTH [...] (C) Summary. The RTG has given formal approval for U.S. resettlement of North Korean refugees on a case-by-case, discreet basis and for U.S. resettlement of the first group of six North Koreans. However, Thai sensitivities about this issue remain. Any publicity would complicate the issue and [...] |
2006-04-21 08:41:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREF PREL TH KN KS DPRK |
| 06BANGKOK2565 | U.S.-BOUND NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES BELIEVE RELATIVES [...] (C) Refcoord and Deputy Refcoord met May 2 with the six North Korean refugees approved by DHS for U.S. resettlement to follow up on concerns expressed by some of the refugees in their separate resettlement interviews about the safety of relatives in North Korea (DPRK). 2. (C) All of the ref [...] |
2006-05-02 09:05:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM PREL KN KS TH DPRK |
| 06BANGKOK3226 | THREE NORTH KOREANS APPROACH EMBASSY [...] (C) On May 27 at approximately 0900 local time, three women claiming to be North Koreans approached the Embassy. They were unaccompanied and spoke minimal English and no Thai. Using an Embassy emplopyee as interpreter, Refcoord, Deputy Refcoord, and Assistant RSO briefly interviewed the three [...] |
2006-05-29 23:45:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV PREL PHUM KN KS TH DPRK |
| 06BANGKOK3255 | STATUS ON THREE NORTH KOREANS [...] (U) This is an action request. See para. 6. 2. (C) On Saturday, May 27 after three North Korean (NK) women approached the Embassy Bangkok seeking resettlement to the United States, RefCoord accompanied them to UNHCR. That same day, UNHCR South Korean secoundee interviewed the three women [...] |
2006-05-30 11:51:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV PREL PHUM KNEP KS TH DPRK |
| 06BANGKOK3534 | TWO NORTH KOREANS JUMP EMBASSY WALL [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-14 10:15:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV PREL PHUM KNEP KS TH |
| 06BANGKOK3535 | NORTH KOREAN REFUGEE DEVELOPMENTS [...] (C) UNHCR Regional Representative Hasim Utkan told Refcoord on June 14 that seven of the ten North Koreans who had been detained and released by Lao authorities (reftel) have now arrived in Bangkok and are staying at the shelter for North Korean refugees managed by a South Korean NGO. Utkan ex [...] |
2006-06-14 10:28:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM PREL TH KN KS |
| 06BANGKOK3582 | NO DECISION FROM THAI ON U.S. RESETTLEMENT [...] (C) In a June 14 telephone conversation, the Ambassador raised the three North Korean refugees who are seeking U.S. resettlement (reftels) with Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn. The Ambassador urged Krit to permit U.S. resettlement processing of the [...] |
2006-06-15 09:25:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREF PREL PHUM TH KS KN DPRK |
| 06BANGKOK3648 | ONE NORTH KOREAN AND ONE PRC NATIONAL APPROACH [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-19 10:21:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV PREL PHUM KNEP KS TH |
| 06BANGKOK3746 | SIX NORTH KOREANS APPROACH EMBASSY [...] (U) This is an action request. See para. 7. 2. (C) On Friday, June 23 at approximately 1130 local time, five women, including one with a 6-year old daughter, approached the front gate of the Embassy and identified themselves as North Koreans. They were met and interviewed by Refcoord, AR [...] |
2006-06-25 23:37:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV PREL PHUM KN KS TH |
| 06BANGKOK3759 | UNHCR NOTIFIES EMBASSY OF INTEREST OF DETAINED [...] (U) This is an action request. See para. 5. 2. (C) On June 26, UNHCR notified Embassy that a North Korean woman currently in the Immigration Detention Center (IDC) in Bangkok has expressed interest in U.S. refugee resettlement. UNHCR reported that in the course of the regular interview for [...] |
2006-06-26 07:31:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV PREL PHUM KN KS TH |
| 06BANGKOK3842 | NORTH KOREAN REFUGEE DEVELOPMENTS [...] (C) UNHCR Regional Representative Hasim Utkan told Refcoord on June 28 that the head of the Thai National Security Council, General Winai Phattiyakul, had told him the previous day that Thai intelligence was reporting that UNHCR was involved in the trafficking of North Koreans to Thailand. Ut [...] |
2006-06-29 07:05:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV PREL PHUM KN KS TH |
| 06BANGKOK4445 | ONE NORTH KOREAN APPROACHED EMBASSSY [...] (U) This is an action request. See para.6 2. (C) On Monday, July 17 at midday, a young woman, accompanied by an associate of Reverend Chun Ki-won of the Evangelical Movement for North Korea Durihana Mission, approached the Embassy and asked to be resettled in the United States. Per usual [...] |
2006-07-24 08:47:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV PREL PHUM KNEP KS TH |
| 06BANGKOK4842 | UNHCR INFORMS EMBASSY OF INTEREST IN U.S. [...] (C) Over the past several days, UNHCR/Bangkok informed Embassy that three North Koreans in Bangkok's Immigration Detention Center have expressed interest in U.S. resettlement. UNHCR's ROK secondee has confirmed their North Korean nationality and obtained a written statement of their interst i [...] |
2006-08-09 00:57:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PGOV PHUM KNEP KS TH |
| 06BANGKOK5456 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UNSCR 1695 [...] (U) On September 6, 2006 post delivered Reftel A demarche to Phasporn Sangasubana, Director of the Administrative Affairs Division, International Organization Bureau, of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ms. Phasporn acknowledged receipt of the talking points, but informed Poloff that no [...] |
2006-09-06 08:08:00 | Embassy Bangkok | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM PREL KNNP MNUC WMD CT KPAO PTER KN KS |
| 06BANGKOK5693 | THAI GOVERNMENT PERMITS 16 NORTH KOREANS TO [...] (C) On September 15, Deputy Refcoord spoke to MFA contact and received confirmation that the RTG had approved the processing of 16 interested NKs (ref e-mail). The RTG did not have a specific list of 16 in mind and was prepared to accept our proposal, as long as the list comprised NKs who had [...] |
2006-09-15 09:00:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PGOV PHUM KNEP KS TH |
| 06BANGKOK6470 | ARREST OF NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM SEEKERS [...] (C) On October 24, 83 North Korean asylum seekers were picked up by Thai immigration officers in an apartment building in the northern Bangkok suburb of Pathum Thani. A South Korean NGO was taking care of them in that facility. A representative of the NGO was also taken into custody by the p [...] |
2006-10-25 08:47:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PHUM TH KN KS |
| 06BANGKOK6945 | ROK POLITICAL COUNSELOR UPDATE ON NORTH KOREAN [...] (C) Summary. ROK Embassy Political Counselor Choi said on November 15 that differences within the RTG may account for the recent raid on the South Korean shelter for North Korean refugees. After discussions with the RTG, the ROK Embassy is now working with Thai Immigration to set up a new she [...] |
2006-11-17 02:48:00 | Embassy Bangkok | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PHUM KN KS TH |
| 06BEIJING14173 | PRC WORKING ON DPRK IN PRIVATE [...] (C) Summary: China shares the same objectives with the United States, which should not be disappointed with China's actions or statements, MFA Director General Liu Jieyi said in response to the DCM's delivery of reftel points. As opposed to the 1998 UNSC "Statement to the Press," China favors a [...] |
2006-07-06 08:29:00 | Embassy Beijing | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM MCCP MARR KNNP UNSC KN KS JA |
| 06BEIJING15388 | July 13 Preparatory Meeting for Energy Ministerial [...] (SBU) Summary and Comment: On July 13, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) hosted a successful preparatory meeting to discuss a proposed five country Energy Ministerial Roundtable in Beijing later this fall. Reflecting input from the Japanese and Korean delegations, the [...] |
2006-07-25 23:05:00 | Embassy Beijing | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENRG EINV EPET CH JA KS IN |
| 06BEIJING16823 | A/S SAUERBREY'S AUGUST 10 MEETING WITH UNHCR [...] (C) SUMMARY: VISITING PRM ASSISTANT SECRETARY ELLEN SAUERBREY MET AUGUST 10 WITH UNHCR ACTING REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE CHOOSIN NGAOTHEPPITAK TO DISCUSS NORTH KOREANS IN CHINA AND OTHER REFUGEE ISSUES. REVIEWING EFFORTS TO PUSH THE PRC TO LIVE UP TO ITS INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS AND COOPERATE [...] |
2006-08-15 13:18:00 | Embassy Beijing | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PHUM KN KS CH TH |
| 06BEIJING17957 | ROK READOUT OF NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SONG [...] (C) ROK NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SONG MIN-SOON'S AUGUST 24-25 VISIT TO BEIJING FOCUSED ON PLANNING FOR ROK PRESIDENT ROH'S OCTOBER VISIT AS WELL AS DISCUSSING NORTH KOREA. AN ROK EMBASSY OFFICER STRESSED THAT BOTH SIDES LOOK TO PRESIDENT ROH'S VISIT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN BILATERAL [...] |
2006-08-25 12:19:00 | Embassy Beijing | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MNUC KNNP CH KN KS |
| 06BEIJING21219 | DPRK NUCLEAR TEST THREAT: ROK, JAPANESE, RUSSIAN [...] No summary [...] |
2006-10-07 09:27:00 | Embassy Beijing | SECRET | PREL MNUC KN CH KS JA RU |
| 06BEIJING21220 | DPRK NUCLEAR TEST THREAT: VIEWS OF CHINESE [...] (S) Chinese academic and media observers are concerned about North Korea's threat to conduct a nuclear test and generally believe the DPRK will actually carry out its threat to test at some point. Some observers expressed skepticism that a test would come soon. The official China Daily ran o [...] |
2006-10-07 11:22:00 | Embassy Beijing | SECRET | PREL MNUC CH KN KS JA RU |
| 06BEIJING21224 | REPORTED DPRK NUCLEAR TEST: RARE MFA ""STATEMENT"" [...] (S) The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a rare official ""statement"" (text at para 11) on October 9 condemning the reported DPRK nuclear test that day. China had only issued four previous MFA statements of this kind in the last decade and a half. Chinese contacts we spoke with expressed sur [...] |
2006-10-09 11:50:00 | Embassy Beijing | SECRET | PREL MNUC CH KN JA KS RU |
| 06BEIJING21227 | REPORTED DPRK NUCLEAR TEST: REACTION OF BEIJING [...] (C) Officials from the Japanese, ROK, Russian, French and British Embassies in Beijing were in contact with Chinese officials October 9 about the reported DPRK nuclear test and said their capitals had made or would make statements condemning the DPRK action. The Japanese geological service re [...] |
2006-10-09 12:31:00 | Embassy Beijing | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC MNUC PINR KN CH JN KS RU |
| 06BEIJING21641 | OCTOBER 12 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DPRK NUCLEAR TEST; [...] Key Points made at the October 12 Press Briefing were: -- The DPRK must not further worsen the Korean peninsula nuclear situation. -- Six-Party Talks remain the best method for resolving the crisis, however direct dialogue between the United States and DPRK would help narrow differences. [...] |
2006-10-12 11:36:00 | Embassy Beijing | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM CH KN KS NP |
| 06BEIJING21796 | BEIJING SCHOLARS ON DPRK DEVELOPMENTS [...] (C) China's issuance of a tough statement in reaction to the DPRK claimed nuclear test reflected President Hu Jintao's anger over Pyongyang's defiance, according to Beijing think tanker An Hongquan (protect). The Chinese leadership was particularly "shocked and angered" by the timing of the DP [...] |
2006-10-13 13:41:00 | Embassy Beijing | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR MARR CH KS KN |
| 06BEIJING23726 | DAS CHRISTENSEN DISCUSSES NORTH KOREA AND TAIWAN [...] No summary [...] |
2006-11-13 01:13:00 | Embassy Beijing | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CH KN KS JA |
| 06BEIJING23883 | DAS CHRISTENSEN DISCUSSES NORTH KOREA AND TAIWAN [...] (C) The North Korean nuclear problem should be the focus of the Six-Party Talks and we should not let other issues interfere with the primary goal of denuclearizing the DPRK, Vice Chairman of the China Reform Forum (CRF) DING Kuisong (strictly protect), told visiting EAP DAS Thomas Christensen [...] |
2006-11-18 03:34:00 | Embassy Beijing | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CH KN KS JA |
| 06BEIJING24310 | DECEMBER 5 MFA BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY TALKS AND [...] Key Points at the December 5 MFA Press Conference were: -- China hopes for the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks, but this requires the consensus of all parties. No date has been set. Luxury goods prohibited for import to the DPRK have not been defined. -- China is closely followin [...] |
2006-12-05 10:34:00 | Embassy Beijing | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PARM RP JA KS TC CH |
| 06BEIJING24344 | MFA BRIEFING ON EAST ASIA SUMMIT, CHINA-ASEAN [...] On December 6, Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai held a special press briefing outlining Premier Wen Jiabao?s upcoming planned state visit to the Philippines and Chinese participation in ASEAN- related events in Cebu from December 11-15. Wen will attend the East Asia Summit, China-ASEAN [...] |
2006-12-06 09:12:00 | Embassy Beijing | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL ETRD CH RP JA KS KN |
| 06BEIJING24643 | DECEMBER 19 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY TALKS, [...] Key Points at the December 19 MFA Press Conference were: -- With resumption of Six-Party Talks and bilateral talks between the United States and DPRK, all parties maintain hope that the Talks can press ahead toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. "Visible and sharp" differences w [...] |
2006-12-19 11:29:00 | Embassy Beijing | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM MNUC KN KS IN JA CH |
| 06BEIJING24739 | DECEMBER 21 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY TALKS, [...] Key Points at the December 21 MFA Press Conference were: --At the Six-Party Talks, bilateral meetings between the six parties will be held today. China is willing to draft a statement for this round of the Six-Party Talks if all parties can reach consensus. The statement would include den [...] |
2006-12-21 13:02:00 | Embassy Beijing | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM MNUC KN KS IN JA CH |
| 06BEIJING24852 | DECEMBER 28 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SCO SYG ZHANG [...] Key Points at the December 28 MFA Press Conference were: --Outgoing Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary General (SYG) Zhang Deguang was pragmatic and helped launch the organization and raise its international profile. China expects similar pragmatism from Zhang's successor, Bol [...] |
2006-12-28 08:40:00 | Embassy Beijing | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV KN KS IS JA CH |
| 06BEIJING4671 | MTAG: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON MISSILE-RELATED STEEL [...] No summary [...] |
2006-03-13 09:05:00 | Embassy Beijing | SECRET | PREL ETTC MTCRE KSCA KN KS PK CH |
| 06BELGRADE1492 | SERBIAN REPSONSE TO U.S. VIEWS ON UNSC RESOLUTION 1695 [...] (U) On September 12, 2006, poloff met with representatives of the Serbian MFA to deliver reftel points on USG views on UNSC Resolution 1695 on North Korea's missile programs. Serbia said that as a member of the U.N. they fully support this resolution and will fulfill their commitment. Any ad [...] |
2006-09-15 12:57:00 | Embassy Belgrade | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM PREL KNNP MNUC WMD CT KPAO PTER KN KS |
| 06CARACAS2043 | CHINESE AMBASSADOR ON US-PRC SUB-DIALOGUE ON [...] (C) Summary: Ambassador met July 6 with PRC Ambassador Jiu Yijie to discuss A/S Shannon's meetings in Beijing last April (ref a). Ambassador walked Jiu through the PRC-Venezuela relationship, which is focused on energy, raw materials, and commercial issues. Ambassador suggested our two coun [...] |
2006-07-10 15:46:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | OTRA PREL ETRD PGOV CH JA KS VE |
| 06HANOI2389 | VIETNAM ECONOMIC DELEGATION TO NORTH KOREA REBUFFS [...] (C) Summary: The GVN recently sent a Ministry of Trade-led delegation to Pyongyang and Nampo. According to a GVN readout of the visit provided to the ROK Embassy, during the delegation's August 28-September 1 visit, the Vietnamese turned down a DPRK request for food and other assistance, say [...] |
2006-09-19 09:45:00 | Embassy Hanoi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR ECON KS KN VM |
| 06HANOI627 | VIETNAM AND DPRK WORK TO IMPROVE TIES [...] (C) DPRK MFA Asia Director Ma Chol-su visited Vietnam March 2-5 as part of the two countries' continuing efforts to patch up relations following the mass defection incident of July 2004. During meetings in Hanoi with Government and Party representatives, the two sides agreed to pursue high-le [...] |
2006-03-17 05:56:00 | Embassy Hanoi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VM KN KS |
| 06HELSINKI908 | FINLAND VIEWS OF UNSC RESOLUTION 1695 [...] No summary [...] |
2006-09-08 12:35:00 | Embassy Helsinki | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM PREL KNNP MNUC WMD CT KPAO PTER KN KS |
| 06JAKARTA10877 | FM WIRAJUDA TO ATTEND MEETING OF THE 5 PLUS 5 GROUP [...] (U) Post conveyed reftel information and request to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry on August 31. They responded the same day saying that FM Hassan Wirajuda would be interested in participating in the proposed 5 plus 5 meeting and accepts the invitation. 2. (U) The Foreign Ministry is awa [...] |
2006-08-31 10:12:00 | Embassy Jakarta | UNCLASSIFIED | KNNP MNUC PARM PREL KN KS ID |
| 06JAKARTA10927 | DEMARCHE ON U.S. VIEWS OF UNSCR 1695 ON NORTH [...] (C) We delivered reftel demarche to MFA Deputy Director for Northeast Asian Affairs Tumpal M.H. Hutagalung on September 1. We stressed the importance of Indonesia's active participation in implementing the resolution to ensure effective controls on North Korea's nuclear program. We also left [...] |
2006-09-01 12:11:00 | Embassy Jakarta | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL KNNP MNUC WMD PTER KN KS ID |
| 06JAKARTA13453 | ROH, SBY INITIAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP IN JAKARTA [...] (C) Summary. On December 4 in Jakarta, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun initialed a comprehensive 32-point "Strategic Partnership" encompassing a wide rage of areas for cooperation. The Partnership serves as a baseline for the development [...] |
2006-12-08 11:15:00 | Embassy Jakarta | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD ENRG KS ID |
| 06JAKARTA2316 | INDONESIAN OUTBRIEF ON KOREAN MEDIATION MISSION [...] (C) Summary: Indonesian Special Envoy Amb. Nana Sutresna briefed representatives of the nations participating in the Six Party talks on his travels to Pyongyang and Seoul earlier in the month. Sutresna, following the instructions of President Yudhoyono (SBY) urged the North Koreans to resume [...] |
2006-02-21 11:50:00 | Embassy Jakarta | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KNUC MARR KN KS ID |
| 06KABUL3455 | KOREAN RALLY UPDATE - 08-02-2006 [...] (SBU) Post continues to track a group of approximately 1150 Koreans in country to participate in a peace rally and relief work. News reports characterize the groups as "Christian Evangelicals" and there has already been one Afghan demonstration in Mazar-e-Sharif to protest this event and the s [...] |
2006-08-02 14:39:00 | Embassy Kabul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CASC PGOV PHUM PREL PTER AF KS |
| 06KABUL3479 | KOREAN RALLY UPDATE, THURSDAY 08-03-2006 [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Karzai has ordered the "protection" of the estimated 1,200 ethnic Koreans in Afghanistan as part of the Institution of Asian Culture and Development,s (IACD) and Millennium Pacific Icon (MPIG) groups' planned August 5-7 peace rallies (reftels). According to Gen. Akhbar [...] |
2006-08-03 16:28:00 | Embassy Kabul | CONFIDENTIAL | CASC PGOV PHUM PREL PTER AF KS |
| 06KABUL3480 | Korean Rally Update, Friday 08-04-2006 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The situation in Kabul and the provinces with regard to the Korean groups remains calm. Hundreds of Koreans were deported today through Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat. Some groups of Americans have been identified, contacted, and offered assistance. We expect most will leave the coun [...] |
2006-08-04 17:12:00 | Embassy Kabul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CASC PREL PGOV PTER PHUM AF KS |
| 06KABUL3481 | KOREAN RALLY: MOI/MOD CONTINGENCY PLANS [...] (C) CSTC-A Commander MG Durbin called a meeting on Aug 4 afternoon to brief Emboffs on MoI planning and MoI-MoD coordination (CSTC has embedded mentors in both Ministries) with regard any demonstration or rally held by the Koreans now in Afghanistan. MG Durbin emphasized that although Ministe [...] |
2006-08-04 17:20:00 | Embassy Kabul | CONFIDENTIAL | CASC PGOV ASEC PREL PHUM AF KS |
| 06KABUL3508 | Korean Rally Update, Sunday 08-06-2006 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: There have been no incidents of violence in connection with the Korean rally participants so far. Hundreds of participants have left Kabul over the last two days, including many Americans. The situation appears to have largely been defused and the remaining Koreans are mostly [...] |
2006-08-06 16:56:00 | Embassy Kabul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CASC PREL PGOV PTER PHUM AF KS |
| 06KATHMANDU2423 | NEPAL: NONPAPER DELIVERED ON U.S. VIEWS OF UNSC [...] No summary [...] |
2006-09-07 11:37:00 | Embassy Kathmandu | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM PREL KNNP MNUC WMD CT KPAO PTER KN KS |
| 06KUWAIT3211 | KUWAIT GRANTS COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR STAFFDEL BALKHAM(7-17 [...] Embassy Kuwait welcomes and hereby grants country clearance for STAFFDEL Balkham to travel to post o/a 13 to 14 August, 2006. 2. This clearance is not/not valid for entry into Iraq; you must apply for Iraq clearance through Embassy Baghdad. 3. Hotel reservations have been made for 13 Aug, [...] |
2006-08-09 11:51:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED | OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN KS PK AF KU IZ JA COUNTRY |
| 06KUWAIT3693 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: U.S. VIEWS OF UNSC RESOLUTION [...] No summary [...] |
2006-09-14 11:02:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL KNNP MNUC WMD CT KPAO PTER KN KS |
| 06LAGOS136 | OKRIKA DAEWOO FACILITY ATTACKED: NO FATALITIES [...] (SBU) South-Korean Daewoo Construction facility in Okrika, Rivers State was attacked Saturday, January 28 at 0730 by approximately 30 armed men. Korean Embassy First Secretary Tok-won Lee spoke with Daewoo Managing Director to confirm there were no fatalities primarily because Daewoo's securit [...] |
2006-01-31 14:34:00 | Consulate Lagos | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EPET PGOV PTER KHLS PINR ETRD KS NI |
| 06LAGOS775 | SHELL GAS PLANT ATTACKED: SOME DEATHS; 5 KOREAN, 1 [...] (SBU) A Shell Petroleum Development Company gas plant in Chawthorne Channel, near Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was attacked Wednesday, June 7 at 0100. Press reported between five and nine deaths among government security forces when armed assailants attacked their houseboat. Military sources [...] |
2006-06-07 16:52:00 | Consulate Lagos | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET PGOV PTER KHLS PINR KS NI DELTAVIOLENCE |
| 06LISBON2069 | PORTUGAL FULLY SUPPORTS UNSCR 1695 INITIATIVE [...] On September 15, Pol/Econ Officer delivered reftel demarche to Luis Cabao, Director for Asian and Oceanic Affairs at the MFA, and Angelo Seia Neves, Director General for European Affairs and International Relations at the Ministry of Finance. Portugal fully supports the measures outlined in UN [...] |
2006-09-20 10:52:00 | Embassy Lisbon | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM PREL KNNP MNUC WMD CT KPAO PTER KNAR KS |
| 06LONDON5476 | CONDEMNATION OF DPRK MISSILE LAUNCHES AT IMO [...] Summary. USDel delivered the statement contained in Ref A at the July 19 meeting of the IMO NAV 52 conference. USDel's statement followed the Japanese intervention which condemned the DPRK missile launches and was joined by statements of concern from the Russian Federation, HMG, France, Italy [...] |
2006-07-26 13:10:00 | Embassy London | UNCLASSIFIED | EWWT PHSA PARM MOPS MCAP KN KS JA UK IMO |
| 06MANILA4852 | (SBU) NORTH KOREAN CITIZEN APPRACHES EMBASSY [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see para 8. 2. (C) On November 9, a North Korean woman, Ms. Hyae Yeong PAK, approached the Embassy's outdoor reception area to express interest in resettlement in the United States. Emboffs also interviewed Ms. Pak, using guidance provided by PRM. [...] |
2006-11-30 03:53:00 | Embassy Manila | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PGOV PHUM RP KS TH CM |
| 06MANILA4855 | PHILIPPINE PLANS FOR ASEAN SUMMITS IN CEBU [...] (C) Summary. The Philippines plans to make a new counterterrorism convention and recommendations on an ASEAN Charter the highlights of the December 11 ASEAN Summit. The subsequent ASEAN 3 Summit and East Asia Summit will probably break no new ground and will not include new participants, [...] |
2006-11-30 07:25:00 | Embassy Manila | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECIN PTER ASEAN XE RU CH JA KN KS RP |
| 06MANILA5062 | GRP GRANTS PERMISSION TO PROCESS NORTH KOREAN [...] (U) THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE -- SEE PARA 4. 2. (C) At the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs' UNHCR officer, Acting POL/C met on December 21 with Philippine Department of Justice (PDOJ) Chief State Counsel Attorney Ricardo Paras and his staff to determine Philippine will [...] |
2006-12-21 07:36:00 | Embassy Manila | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PGOV PHUM KS KN TH RP |
| 06MANILA5102 | INVITATION TO ARF MEETING ON MULTILATERAL SECURITY [...] (U) During a December 28 meeting to discuss ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) issues (septel), Department of Foreign Affairs Special Assistant to the Undersecretary for Policy Maria Andrelita Austria passed Acting Pol/C a copy of letter from Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio to her ARF Senior Officials [...] |
2006-12-28 09:20:00 | Embassy Manila | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL AORC ARF CH KS JN RP |
| 06MINSK984 | UNSC RESOLUTION DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] Poloff delivered reftel talking points to the Americas Desk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in the form of a non-paper on September 8. The talking points were received without comment. MOORE [...] |
2006-09-12 11:21:00 | Embassy Minsk | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM PREL KNNP MNUC WMD CT KPAO PTER KN KS BO |
| 06MONTEVIDEO570 | CHINESE AND KOREAN AMBASSADORS' PERSPECTIVES ON [...] (C) Summary: Charge met separately with Ambassadors from the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and South Korea to discuss regional perspectives in the wake of Assistant Secretary Shannon's trip to Asia on April 8-15. Chinese SIPDIS Ambassador Wang Xioyuan said he had been briefed on A/S Shann [...] |
2006-06-22 19:26:00 | Embassy Montevideo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ETRD PINR OTRA CH JA KS UY |
| 06MOSCOW6307 | MFA ON PROCESSING OF NORTH KOREANS IN RUSSIA [...] (C) Deputy Political Minister-Counselor delivered reftel points to Mikhail Lebedev, Acting Director of the MFA Department of Humanitarian Cooperation and Human Rights, on June 13. Lebedev said the GOR would have to consider the U.S. request before responding officially. 2. (C) Lebedev sa [...] |
2006-06-13 10:23:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF KN KS RS |
| 06OSAKAKOBE153 | JAPANESE TARGET THE GLOBAL PLASMA DISPLAY MARKET [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (MEI) expects th --------------------------------------------- ------------ Outlook for the Global Plasma Display Panel Market: Strong Growth --------------------------------------------- ------------ 2. (SBU) According to an internal mark [...] |
2006-03-24 07:30:00 | Consulate Osaka Kobe | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EIND KS JA |
| 06OSAKAKOBE351 | LIANCOURT SURVEY: ANOTHER FLASHPOINT IN THE JAPAN SEA [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Observers in western Japan are making an unfortunate public linkage between the ROKG maritime survey in the disputed EEZ of the Liancourt Rocks and the DPRK's missile launches of July 5, local time. Whether or not the DPRK deliberately timed the launches to coincide with the ROK [...] |
2006-07-07 06:38:00 | Consulate Osaka Kobe | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EWWT PBST PHSA PREL KS JA |
| 06OSAKAKOBE88 | TAKESHIMA DAY: THE VIEW FROM SHIMANE PREFECTURE [...] (SBU) February 22 was the first time Shimane Prefecture celebrated Takeshima Day after enacting a controversial ordinance in 2005. A contact confided that the prefectural assembly made a gross miscalculation about the Takeshima Day ordinance. Meant more as a means of exerting pressure on the [...] |
2006-02-23 06:21:00 | Consulate Osaka Kobe | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIS PGOV PREL JA KS |
| 06OSLO669 | BERGEN CONFERENCE ON NORTH KOREAN HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: The 7th International Conference on Human Rights and Refugees "North Korea New Approaches" held in Bergen, Norway May 9-11 brought together government and NGO officials to discuss ways to advance human rights in North Korea. Officials and NGOs agreed that while li [...] |
2006-05-24 10:40:00 | Embassy Oslo | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM CH KN KS NO |
| 06OTTAWA2407 | CANADA'S MULTI-FACETED APPROACH TO COMBATING TIP [...] (SBU) Summary: The Conservative government has recently taken several concrete steps to address the problem of human trafficking in Canada, making this effort a law enforcement priority and highlighting to the Canadian electorate its efforts as an illustration of government effectiveness. L [...] |
2006-08-10 22:36:00 | Embassy Ottawa | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KCRM KWMN SMIG CA KS |
| 06OTTAWA2837 | VISIT OF USTR AMBASSADOR SUSAN SCHWAB TO OTTAWA, [...] (SBU) Summary: USTR Ambassador Susan Schwab visited Ottawa on September 11-12 to sign the U.S.-Canadian Softwood Lumber Agreement, which will be voted on by the Canadian Parliament during the week of September 18. Prior to the signing ceremony at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Intern [...] |
2006-09-18 21:53:00 | Embassy Ottawa | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD PREL ECON EAGR CA CH KS |
| 06PANAMA1233 | PANAMA: REACHING OUT TO ASIAN MISSIONS [...] (SBU) Following up on A/S Shannon's visit to Asia, we reached out to our Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean counterparts to discuss issues of common concern in Panama. While the three Asian missions share a strong focus on developing their countries' commercial and business interests in Panama, t [...] |
2006-06-23 16:15:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | OTRA PREL ETRD ECON LA XK CH JA KS |
| 06PARIS4206 | UNESCO: OVERVIEW OF UNESCO'S WORK ON DESERTIFICATION AND [...] INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY. At a June 13 information session, UNESCO secretariat experts discussed the continuing progress the organization has made with regard to desertification and arid zones. After outlining UNESCO's history of action in this area, panelists presented some of UNESCO's curre [...] |
2006-06-19 15:56:00 | Embassy Paris | UNCLASSIFIED | KS AORC TSPL EAID SENV SOCI UNESCO KSCI |
| 06PARIS4643 | UNESCO: U.S. COMMITMENT TO IMPROVED WATER RESOURCES HIGHLIGHTE [...] THE OPENING DAYS OF THE 17TH MEETING OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE INTERNATIONAL HYDROLOGICAL PROGRAM (IHP IGC, JULY 3-7) HAVE ALREADY YIELDED SEVERAL IMPORTANT EXAMPLES OF U.S. RE-ENGAGEMENT WITH UNESCO'S ACTIVITIES IN WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT. 2. ON JULY 4, THE COUNCIL - IN WHICH TH [...] |
2006-07-06 16:08:00 | Embassy Paris | UNCLASSIFIED | KS AORC TSPL EAID SENV SOCI UNESCO KSCI |
| 06PARIS5341 | USG Delegation Report on 17th Meeting of the UNESCO [...] A US delegation participated in the 17th meeting of the UNESCO International Hydrology Program (IHP) Intergovernmental Council (IGC) at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, July 3-7, 2006. The delegation consisted of: Mathew C. Larsen, U.S. Geological Survey (head of delegation), Verne R. Sch [...] |
2006-08-07 16:20:00 | Embassy Paris | UNCLASSIFIED | UNESCO KS AORC TSPL EAID KSCI SENV SOCI |
| 06PARIS6189 | FRANCE WANTS MORE CONCRETE MEASURES TO GIVE TEETH [...] (C) Summary: MFA nonproliferation office, while reiterating France's steadfast support for international efforts to constrain North Korea's weapons program and enforce UNSCR 1695, expressed some concern about a perceived lack of concrete mechanisms -- whether in the Proliferation Security Init [...] |
2006-09-14 16:08:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL KNNP MNUC WMD CT PTER KN KS FR |
| 06QUITO1578 | ECUADOR: ASIAN DIPLOMATS EAGER FOR DIALOGUE [...] (C) Summary: Our recent outreach to diplomatic counterparts from China, Japan and Korea found them highly aware of USG coordination efforts (described RefTel), and eager to engage in dialogue about the political and economic situation in Ecuador and the region. In deference to USG concerns [...] |
2006-06-27 21:11:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD ECON LA CH JA KS EC |
| 06RABAT1648 | U.S. VIEWS OF UNSC RESOLUTION 1695 [...] No summary [...] |
2006-09-06 15:34:00 | Embassy Rabat | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PARM PREL KNNP MNUC WMD CT KPAO PTER KN KS |
| 06ROME1308 | ITALY: 2005/2006 REPORT TO CONGRESS ON ALLIED [...] This unclassified cable is Embassy Rome,s contribution to the 2005 ) 2006 Report to Congress on Allied Contributions to the Common Defense. Post understands from Reftel, Paragraph 6, that DOD will secure significant quantitative data, including defense spending data, from other sources. Pos [...] |
2006-05-03 08:25:00 | Embassy Rome | UNCLASSIFIED | JA KS KU MCAP PREL QA SA US MARR IT TC NATO |
| 06ROME1911 | ITALY CONDEMNS DPRK MISSILE LAUNCH THREAT, WILL [...] (S) Summary. June 28 Poloff and Polmiloff met with MFA Deputy Office Director for East Asia Filippo Nicosia to follow up on Ref A demarche requesting GOI regulation of DPRK flags of convenience, and to deliver Ref B points on North Korean long-range missile launch. Nicosia noted that the new [...] |
2006-06-30 15:03:00 | Embassy Rome | SECRET//NOFORN | PARM PREL KN KNNP MNUC EWWT PHSA KS IT |
| 06ROME556 | ITALY: 2005/2006 REPORT TO CONGRESS ON ALLIED [...] The following is Embassy Rome,s contribution to the 2005 ) 2006 Report to Congress on Allied Contributions to the Common Defense. Post understands from Reftel, Paragraph 6, that DOD will secure significant quantitative data, including defense spending data, from other sources. Post will prov [...] |
2006-02-23 09:42:00 | Embassy Rome | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | JA KS KU MCAP PREL QA SA US MARR IT TC NATO |
| 06SARAJEVO2086 | UNSCR 1695: BOSNIA SUPPORTS IMPLEMENTATION [...] No summary [...] |
2006-09-11 10:48:00 | Embassy Sarajevo | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL KNNP MNUC WMD CT KPAO PTER KNAR 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL410 | 2005/2006 REPORT TO CONGRESS ON ROK CONTRIBUTIONS [...] (U) The Republic of Korea made significant contributions to the common defense of the Korean peninsula in 2004 and 2005. The ROKG demonstrated a strong commitment to the U.S.-ROK alliance, working closely with the U.S. to address the DPRK nuclear issue and making important contributions to t [...] |
2006-02-06 08:20:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | MCAP PREL PGOV PARM MARR ECON KS |
| 06SEOUL4116 | SMA NEGOTIATIONS ROUND VI: ONE LAST PUSH [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a small group meeting and plenary session that followed, Ambassador Loftis and his ROK counterpart, Ambassador Cho Tae-yong, presented their respective negotiating positions on the 2007-2008 Special Measures (burden-sharing) Agreement (SMA). The ROKG proposed a contribution [...] |
2006-12-01 00:21:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | KS PM PREL MARR MASS MCAP |
| 06SEOUL4123 | ROKG-AMCHAM ON REGULATORY REFORM [...] (U) The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) held its semi-annual meeting on regulatory reform with Deputy Minister Park (in the Office of Policy Coordination under the Prime Minister) on November 22. Park emphasized the ROKG's continuing commitment to regulatory reform, and highlighted ma [...] |
2006-12-01 06:27:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EINV ECON KS |
| 06SEOUL4130 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DAS FEIGENBAUM [...] (U) Embassy Seoul welcomes and grants country clearance to DAS Evan Feigenbaum for December 9-12, 2006 official visit to Seoul. CONTACT INFORMATION ------------------- 2. (U) Control officer for the visit is Political Officer Andrew Bennett. Office telephone: (82)(2) 397-4372 E [...] |
2006-12-01 07:35:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AMGT OTRA KS |
| 06SEOUL4138 | KOREA'S RAGING REAL ESTATE SPECULATION [...] (C) Korea's speculative fever in metropolitan real estate recently claimed three victims: Construction Minister Choo Byung-jik and two Blue House presidential advisors, Senior Secretary on Public Information Lee Baek-man and Economic Advisor Chung Moon-soo. Their departures were carefully o [...] |
2006-12-02 03:26:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EFIN EINV ECON SOCI PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL4156 | ROK'S IRAQ ZAYTUN TROOP DEPLOYMENT: 2007 EXTENSION [...] (C) Summary: The ROK government is likely to forward a motion to the National Assembly proposing to extend the ROK's Iraq Zaytun troop deployment until the end of 2007. One complicating factor is the demand of the ruling Uri Party to include a pullout plan together with the troop extension m [...] |
2006-12-05 02:54:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL4165 | TIGHTENING INSPECTIONS OF NORTH-SOUTH CARGO [...] (C) SUMMARY and Action Request: Since their inception in 2004, the East and West Transportation Corridors -- allowing goods and South Korean citizens to travel to/from North Korea by passing through the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) -- have been a monitoring challenge. The problem has become more [...] |
2006-12-05 08:38:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MNUC KNNP KN KS |
| 06SEOUL4166 | RESPONSE RECEIVED: IRANIAN PROCUREMENT OF [...] (S) Park, Chul-min, Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT)s Disarmament and Nonproliferation Division provided a response to reftel demarche after consulting with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Energy (MOCIE) and the Korean National Intelligence Service (KNIS). [...] |
2006-12-05 09:03:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PARM PREL ETTC KS IR |
| 06SEOUL4193 | ROKG TO SUPPORT HRC RESOLUTION ON SUDAN [...] No summary [...] |
2006-12-07 08:43:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM KTIA UN KS SU |
| 06SEOUL4194 | KOREA PASSES NON-REGULAR WORKER BILLS [...] (SBU) After two years of delays and debate, the ROK passed three labor bills to address wage and benefit discrimination against non-regular workers who comprise more than one-third of the workforce in Korea. Although the bills layout a clear path for non-regular workers to become regular wor [...] |
2006-12-07 08:44:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL4210 | ROK'S IRAQ ZAYTUN TROOP DEPLOYMENT EXTENSION: [...] (SBU) The bill to extend the ROK Zaytun troop deployment to Iraq was submitted to the National Assembly's Defense Committee on December 6 calling for a one-year renewal of the deployment and a reduction in troops from 2,400 to 1,200. The bill currently calls for the ROK to complete its mission [...] |
2006-12-08 07:50:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL423 | DPRK ECONOMY: CHINESE EXPERTS FORESEE ECONOMIC [...] (SBU) A January 18-19 academic conference in Beijing explored the potential for North Korea to change its "military first" security policy in order to realize more meaningful economic reform, faster economic growth and an increase in international aid. The American organizers of the event wor [...] |
2006-02-07 06:35:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAID PREL PGOV KN KS CH JA |
| 06SEOUL4233 | AMBASSADOR'S INITIAL CALL ON ROK DEFENSE MINISTER [...] (C) SUMMARY: During the Ambassador's December 11 office call on the new ROK Defense Minister, General Kim Jang-soo: -- The Ambassador congratulated him on his elevation to head the Ministry of National Defense and said he looked forward to continued close consultations on U.S.-ROK Alliance [...] |
2006-12-12 05:41:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MNUC KNNP KN KS |
| 06SEOUL4247 | GOVERNOR ROMNEY VISITS KOREA [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney visited South Korea on December 6-7 and met with a wide range of government and non-governmental leaders, gave a speech to AMCHAM, visited the DMZ and received a briefing from USFK. The Governor's meetings focused on North Korea and the curren [...] |
2006-12-14 00:21:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREL ABLD KS KN |
| 06SEOUL425 | WHAT IS GOING ON WITH NORTH KOREAN ECONOMIC [...] (SBU) In the three years following North Korea's July 2002 economic reform program, most South Korean experts on the North Korean economy came to share certain assumptions about the state of transformation of economic policy in the North. Some of the key elements of that shared "conventional wi [...] |
2006-02-07 07:00:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID EAGR EFIN PREL KN KS |
| 06SEOUL4260 | U.S.-ROK ALLIANCE MANAGEMENT - LOOKING AHEAD TO [...] (C) With only 12 months left until the next presidential election, President Roh finds himself stuck in the lowest approval ratings ever for a Korean president -- 5.7 percent according to the most recent poll, low teens according to others. Roh's desperation to recover and have some say in th [...] |
2006-12-14 08:44:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | KS PREL |
| 06SEOUL4261 | ROK ACADEMICS OFFER MULTI-DIMENSIONAL APPROACH TO [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Several conservative ROK academics urged a multi-pronged approach toward North Korean human rights, arguing that the U.S. should take larger number of refugees, continue sanctions and increase radio broadcasts into North Korea, while providing humanitarian assistance and promotin [...] |
2006-12-14 09:12:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PHUM PREL KS KN CH |
| 06SEOUL4281 | NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES IN THE ROK: AN OVERVIEW [...] (SBU) The ROKG's resettlement programs for North Korean refugees have evolved over time as the number of refugees has grown and their demographics have changed. South Korean officials and experts see the ROK's efforts to help the nearly 10,000 refugees successfully resettle in the ROK as the [...] |
2006-12-15 09:05:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PHUM PGOV PREL KTIP KS KN |
| 06SEOUL4282 | NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES: FIRST STEPS INTO ROK SOCIETY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Upon arrival in the ROK, North Koreans undergo an interagency security screening process, during which the ROKG seeks to confirm refugees' bona fides and assess security risks. Thereafter, nearly all North Koreans move to the ROK's Hanawon resettlement facility, where they rece [...] |
2006-12-15 09:05:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PHUM PGOV PREL KTIP KS KN |
| 06SEOUL4283 | NK REFUGEES: OBSTACLES TO INTEGRATION IN THE SOUTH [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: North Korean refugees face an enormous culture shock in adjusting to life in the ROK. Not accustomed to South Korean political and economic systems and unable to compete educationally, North Koreans face difficulties obtaining stable employment. Their resettlement is not helpe [...] |
2006-12-15 09:05:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PHUM PGOV PREL KTIP KS KN |
| 06SEOUL4284 | NK REFUGEES: THE QUEST FOR STABLE EMPLOYMENT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Finding stable employment is probably the greatest challenge for North Koreans resettling in the ROK. The ROKG assigns North Korean refugees to employment officers, provides incentives, recruits employers, and subsidizes half of North Koreans' salaries to their employers for two [...] |
2006-12-15 09:05:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PHUM PGOV PREL KTIP KS KN |
| 06SEOUL4285 | SCA DAS FEIGENBAUM'S CONSULTATIONS ON CENTRAL ASIA [...] (C) Visiting SCA Deputy Assistant Secretary Evan Feigenbaum on December 11 inaugurated a U.S.-Korea consultation on Central Asia. Feigenbaum reviewed with ROKG officials U.S. objectives in the region, including enlisting less traditional partners, such as Korea, to help promote economic libe [...] |
2006-12-15 09:23:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD KS UZ KZ |
| 06SEOUL4294 | MOU DEPUTY MINSTER UNDERSCORES AID SUSPENSION [...] (C) In a follow-up to the Ambassador's discussion with Foreign Minister Song Min-soon on December 14 (ref A), POL M/C met with Deputy Unification Minister Lee Kwan-sei on December 15 and requested the ROKG to establish a stricter inspections regime for North-South cargo moving through the two [...] |
2006-12-18 06:08:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MNUC ECON KS KN |
| 06SEOUL4297 | PURSUIT OF TERRORIST INFORMATION EXCHANGE: ROK [...] No summary [...] |
2006-12-18 06:51:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | KVPR PTER PREL PGOV PINR CVIS ASEC KHLS KS |
| 06SEOUL4309 | INCOMING UNIFICATION MINISTER URGES FLEXIBILITY ON [...] (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador on December 18, Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung reaffirmed that the U.S.-ROK alliance was "essential" to peace on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. The ROKG would work closely with the USG, fully implement UNSCR 1718, and cooperate with the inte [...] |
2006-12-19 02:31:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PARM KS KN |
| 06SEOUL4319 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: TERMINATION OF NOGUN-RI [...] (U) This is an action cable. Please see para 3. 2. (C) On December 18, Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Shin, Sung-won, Director of the North America Affairs Division II, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT). Director Shin said that it was unfortunate, but that MOFAT had expect [...] |
2006-12-19 07:51:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL432 | DEMARCHE ON RESTRICTING VENEZUELA'S ACCESS TO ARMS [...] No summary [...] |
2006-02-07 08:40:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | MARR MASS PARM PREL VE KS |
| 06SEOUL4326 | KOREA RENEWS CONTRIBUTION TO HELP REPLACE RUSSIAN [...] In December 2005, the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Energy to enable it to contribute to the Elimination of Weapons-Grade Plutonium Production (EWGPP) Program (Ref A). Korea contribued USD 250,000 in 2005 [...] |
2006-12-20 00:30:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM ENRG KNNP KS RS |
| 06SEOUL4328 | YONGSAN RELOCATION: DOMESTIC POLITICS AND THE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Unhelpful reports in the South Korean media that completion of the Yongsan Relocation Plan (YRP) will be delayed by another five years to 2013 appear designed to placate objections within the National Assembly to the high projected cost of the project. The reports are misleading [...] |
2006-12-20 00:57:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MCAP PARM PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL4331 | NEW ROK NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SEEKS CLOSE [...] (C) During a call on newly appointed National Security Advisor Baek Jong-chun, the Ambassador and NSA Baek agreed to cooperate closely in resolving alliance issues, such as OPCON transfer and base relocation, and to continue coordination with regard to the Six Party Talks. END SUMMARY. 2. [...] |
2006-12-20 03:36:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PGOV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL4334 | DOE SECRETARY BODMAN REVIEWS ENERGY PARTNERSHIP WITH KOREA [...] Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman visited South Korea December 12-13. In meetings with the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy and the Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology, Secretary Bodman reviewed U.S.-Korea collaboration, and sought to SIPDIS advance it in areas such as [...] |
2006-12-20 05:42:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG OVIP TRGY KS |
| 06SEOUL4336 | THE SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC OPINION (C-AL6-01891) [...] (C) Poloff met with Secretary to the President for Public Information, Cho Yong hyu and Assistant Secretary Park Si young on Friday December 15. Despite the Secretary's initial reluctance to meet with Embassy staff, Cho was very cordial and spoke openly about his office and their responsibili [...] |
2006-12-20 07:30:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR KS |
| 06SEOUL4339 | ROK RESPONSE: DEMARCHE ON WHO RECOMMENDATIONS TO [...] (C) Poloff delivered reftel talking points to Ms. Cho, Hyung Hwa of the Policy Planning and International Organizations Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) and Mr. Kim, Ho-dong of the Narcotics Control Division of the Korean Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of H [...] |
2006-12-20 08:14:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR UNCND UNCRIME KS |
| 06SEOUL434 | LEE JONG-SEOK HEARING OCCASIONS REHASH OF [...] (C) SUMMARY: MOU-designate Lee Jong-seok's hearing at the National Assembly has served as a stage for renewed controversy over the recent U.S.-ROK agreement on strategic flexibility of U.S. Forces in Korea. The debate was sparked last week when a ruling party lawmaker disclosed classified r [...] |
2006-02-07 09:16:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR KS |
| 06SEOUL4341 | DPRK GOLD CROSSING THE DMZ [...] (C) There have been seven scheduled shipments of gold bars across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) since the end of August. Only three of the shipments occurred, the most recent on December 14. All three shipments passed through the western Transportation Corridor (TC West), which is primarily use [...] |
2006-12-20 08:22:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL4365 | SIGNED: WONJU SEISMIC STATION TRANSFER AGREEMENT [...] (U) Per reftel authorization, the Ambassador and ROK Foreign Minister Song Min-soon signed the Wonju Seismic Station Transfer Agreement on December 22 at a signing ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 2. (U) As requested, the original Korean version and English versions of [...] |
2006-12-22 07:38:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | MARR MASS PREL TPHY KTIA KS |
| 06SEOUL4366 | SIGNED: U.S.-ROK 2007-2008 SPECIAL MEASURES [...] (U) Per reftel authorization, the Ambassador and ROK Foreign Minister Song Min-soon signed the U.S.-ROK 2007-2008 Special Measures Agreement on December 22 at a signing ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 2. (U) As requested, the original Korean version and English versio [...] |
2006-12-22 07:39:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | KTIA MARR MCAP PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL4367 | PRESIDENT ROH SPEEKS VERY FRANKLY, AGAIN [...] (C) President Roh Moo-hyun delivered angry and provocative remarks on December 21 to National Unification Advisory Council, criticizing three former Ministers, Goh Kun, Kim Geun-Tae and Chung Dong-young and railing against former defense ministers and generals. Taking 70 minutes to deliver r [...] |
2006-12-22 09:39:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL4375 | NORTH-SOUTH AIR ROUTE REOPENS FOR NGO [...] (SBU) The air route between Pyongyang and Seoul opened December 18 for the first time since the October 9 nuclear test. Members of the Korean Sharing Movement, an NGO engaged in humanitarian work in the DPRK, visited Pyongyang to observe the opening of a new hospital wing. The air route is [...] |
2006-12-26 07:59:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PREF PGOV KS KN |
| 06SEOUL4376 | SOUTH KOREAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES EXTENSION OF [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: As the ROKG proposed on December 22, 2006, the National Assembly approved a bill to extend, but reduce, ROK troop presence in Iraq. The number of troops stationed in Erbil will be reduced from 2300 to 1200 by the end of April 2007. According to the Ministry of National Defense [...] |
2006-12-26 08:20:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PARM PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL4382 | ROKG WELCOMES USG SUPPORT ON ECLAC MEMBERSHIP [...] No summary [...] |
2006-12-27 05:10:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD ECON ECLAC KS LA |
| 06SEOUL4404 | ROKG DECISION TO RELEASE MACHINE TOOL EXPORT TO [...] (S) On December 26, PolOff delivered the information contained in reftel to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT), Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Deputy Kim Jae-woo. On December 28, Kim informed PolOff that the Ministry of Commerce, Energy and Industry (MOCIE) decided to release t [...] |
2006-12-28 08:14:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PARM MTCRE PREL ETTC KS PK |
| 06SEOUL4412 | ROKG UNDECIDED ON ARF WORKSHOP DELEGATION [...] No summary [...] |
2006-12-29 07:34:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV AORC ARF KS |
| 06SEOUL445 | DEFEATING VENEZUELA IN THE 2006 UNSC ELECTION: [...] (C) POL M-C delivered reftel points opposing Venezuela's candidacy to the UNSC to Kim Won-soo, MOFAT Director-General for Policy Planning, in a previously scheduled meeting on February 8, noting that the Ambassador planned to raise them with Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon at an early opportunity [...] |
2006-02-08 07:55:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNSC GT VE KS |
| 06SEOUL448 | POINTS DELIVERED TO ROK ON IAEA DECISION ON IRAN [...] No summary [...] |
2006-02-08 08:18:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM KNNP PREL KS IR EU AORC |
| 06SEOUL449 | KOREA'S FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH ASEAN [...] (U) On December 13, 2005, the Republic of Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) announced the conclusion of a Framework Agreement for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA). Although the parties had also concluded negotiations for the Trade-in-Goods (TIG) and Dispute S [...] |
2006-02-08 08:19:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECON PREL KS KN XB |
| 06SEOUL450 | KOREAN OBJECTIVES FOR APEC 2006 [...] (C) A key Korean focus for APEC 2006 will be obtaining support for its initiative to begin a new APEC research project on overcoming socio-economic disparities within APEC-members' respective domestic economies. This initiative is based on President Roh's own request (first included as an age [...] |
2006-02-08 08:35:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PREL APECO KS |
| 06SEOUL471 | ROK EXPRESSES CONCERNS ABOUT USG REFUGEE STRATEGY [...] (C) In a February 8 meeting with POL M/C, MOFAT DG Kim Won-soo opined it would be premature to approach third countries about a U.S. proposal (ref A) on North Korean refugees until there was a clear case of a North Korean being potentially eligible for resettlement to the United States. ROKG [...] |
2006-02-10 01:07:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL474 | UPDATE ON RESTRICTING ROK ARMS SALES TO VENEZUELA [...] No summary [...] |
2006-02-10 05:39:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | MARR MASS PARM PREL VE KS |
| 06SEOUL491 | KOREA LAUNCHES SPECIAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH [...] (SBU) Korea added to its rapidly lengthening list of trade negotiations by announcing on February 7 the launch of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations with India during the visit to Seoul of Indian President Abdul Kalam. The same week, Korea and Mexico held a first [...] |
2006-02-13 22:43:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD PREL KS IN MX |
| 06SEOUL498 | FORMER KIM IL SUNG UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR SAYS [...] (SBU) Dr. Cho Myungchul, a think tank researcher who defected to South Korea in 1994 after years of living among the DPRK elite, told poloff on February 8 that social discontent among the DPRK's working class was kept in check through propaganda and periodic acts of decency by the state, rath [...] |
2006-02-14 05:02:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL SOCI MNUC PINR EAID ECON KN KS |
| 06SEOUL502 | KOREA MOVING SLOWLY TO RATIFY UNESCO CULTURAL [...] (SBU) According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT), Korea has not yet initiated domestic procedures for ratifying the UNESCO Cultural Diversity Convention, despite having signed the agreement. 2. (SBU) Kim Eun-jeong, Deputy Director of MOFAT's Cultural Cooperation Division [...] |
2006-02-14 06:24:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD SCUL UNESCO KS |
| 06SEOUL504 | CABINET HEARINGS END WITH A WHIMPER [...] (C) SUMMARY: The National Assembly's first-ever hearings on Cabinet nominees ended with a whimper February 10, as President Roh ignored the legislature's non-binding opinions, as well as the objections of many in his own party, and installed five new Cabinet members and a new police chief. T [...] |
2006-02-14 07:37:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KS |
| 06SEOUL507 | LABOR SNAPSHOT: THE PLAYERS [...] (SBU) Upcoming U.S.-ROK FTA negotiations will include a close USG look at Korea's labor-management relations, a tumultuous sector charged with decades of conflict. This is the first of three cables that will draw a contemporary portrait of industrial relations in the ROK. This cable describ [...] |
2006-02-14 08:29:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ELAB ETRD KS PGOV |
| 06SEOUL509 | ROK FOREIGN MINISTER THROWS HAT INTO UNSYG RING [...] (C) On February 14, the ROK formally announced Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon's candidacy for UN Secretary General. Ban, who has been actively campaigning for several weeks, has apparently been encouraged by initial reactions to his candidacy. MOFAT DG Kim Won-soo, who was recently tapped to be [...] |
2006-02-14 08:42:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC KS |
| 06SEOUL510 | INDIAN PRESIDENT'S VISIT FOCUSED ON ECONOMICS [...] (SBU) On February 13, Park Young-shik, Southwest Asia and Oceania Division Deputy Director at MOFAT, told poloff that the February 6-9 visit of Indian President Abdul Kalam resulted in the signing of three documents: (1) a joint statement on the start of negotiations for a South Korea-India C [...] |
2006-02-14 08:46:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV ECON KS IN |
| 06SEOUL548 | LABOR SNAPSHOT: THE ISSUES [...] (SBU) This is the second of three cables (Ref A is the first) that describe ROK labor-management relations in anticipation of upcoming U.S.-ROK Free Trade Agreement negotiations. This report focuses on the two main issues that have dominated industrial relations debate over the past year: " [...] |
2006-02-17 05:04:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ELAB ETRD KS PGOV |
| 06SEOUL549 | LABOR SNAPSHOT: MEETING THE STANDARDS [...] (SBU) This is the final report in a three-part series on labor-management relations in the ROK. In previous cables we described the major players (Ref A) and current issues (Ref B). We now focus on whether Korean labor laws meet the core labor standards contained in the Trade Promotion Autho [...] |
2006-02-17 06:07:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ELAB ETRD KS PGOV |
| 06SEOUL551 | USAID OFFICIAL DISCUSSES DPRK FOOD SITUATION WITH [...] (SBU) Visiting USAID official Jon Brause met with a range of ROKG officials and NGO and other agency leaders involved in assistance to the DPRK, February 12-16. Brause articulated the USG position on the upcoming WFP proposal for Protracted Relief and Recovery Operations (PRRO) in the DPRK, a [...] |
2006-02-17 07:03:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL558 | ROK WELCOMES U.S. EFFORTS ON IAEA SAFEGUARDS [...] (SBU) On February 17, poloff conveyed reftel points requesting support for the U.S.-proposed draft program of work and work plan for the IAEA Board of Governors (BOG) Committee on Safeguards and Verification to Kwon Hee-seog, Director of the Disarmament and Nonproliferation Division at the Min [...] |
2006-02-17 08:54:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM MUNC AORC PREL NP KNNP IAEA KS |
| 06SEOUL559 | DPRK ECONOMY: KAESONG INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, BOOM OR [...] (SBU) A round of discussions with South Korean companies operating in the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC) in North Korea revealed that most are generally satisfied with business conditions at the project site. While most firms profess to be making money or to be on track with their business [...] |
2006-02-17 09:41:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL574 | KIM DAE-JUNG POSTPONES PYONGYANG TRIP TO JUNE [...] (C) Former President Kim Dae-jung indicated over the weekend that he will delay until June his proposed visit to Pyongyang. As reported REFTEL, Kim had hoped to travel from Seoul to Pyongyang and back by rail in April. The delay comes in response to charges from the opposition parties, incl [...] |
2006-02-21 08:07:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KS KN |
| 06SEOUL585 | MESSAGE ON HAMAS DELIVERED TO ROK [...] No summary [...] |
2006-02-22 07:37:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL590 | CHUNG DONG-YOUNG RETAKES HELM OF RULING URI PARTY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Former Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young was elected chairman of the ruling Uri Party on February 18. His election is seen as further proof of his voter appeal and augurs well for his bid to win the party's nomination for the 2007 presidential election. Chung's first ch [...] |
2006-02-23 07:35:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR KS |
| 06SEOUL592 | ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION OF USFK BASES -- ISSUE [...] (U) This is an action request. 2. (C) The return of closed U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) bases to the ROK has been delayed by an impasse over environmental remediation. The delay is slowing down progress on base relocation/consolidation, a centerpiece of the ongoing realignment of our militar [...] |
2006-02-23 07:47:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR SENV KS |
| 06SEOUL595 | THE DPRK LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION: ROK OBSERVERS [...] (SBU) ROK academics interviewed in recent weeks by poloff were divided on whether North Korean leader Kim Jong-il would name his successor in the near future, and on whether Kim would choose one of his sons as his heir or seek outside the Kim family. Most believed Kim Jong-il's second son, Ki [...] |
2006-02-23 07:58:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PINR MNUC SOCI KN KS |
| 06SEOUL598 | USFK COMMANDER'S INTRODUCTORY CALLS ON FM BAN AND [...] (C) During his February 22 introductory calls on FM Ban Ki-moon and Blue House Secretary for Foreign Affairs Song Min-soon, USFK Commander General Bell urged the ROKG to find a quick solution to the environmental remediation issue. Song briefly shared his views on the North Korean nuclear iss [...] |
2006-02-23 12:33:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PARM KS KN |
| 06SEOUL600 | KOREA ACCEPTS AIRLINE DESIGNATIONS UNDER OPEN [...] After offering assurances of ROKG cooperation during a January 6 meeting, on February 17, Ministry of Construction and Transportation International Air Transport Division Director Oh Yang-jin sent the following letter to the Embassy, agreeing to the terms in Ref A. Begin Text: Embassy of [...] |
2006-02-23 13:13:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR KTIA KS |
| 06SEOUL601 | KOREA SPECIAL 301 IPR REVIEW: EMBASSY RECOMMENDS [...] (SBU) Following Korea's removal from the Special 301 "Priority Watch List" in April 2005, the Korean government continued to move forward in a number of areas to improve the level of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection in Korea. These measures included: introducing legislation that [...] |
2006-02-23 22:46:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD KIPR ECON PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL609 | NGO PROJECT TARGETS FAMILY REUNION FOR [...] (SBU) On February 22, Stephen W. Linton, Chair of the Eugene Bell Foundation (EBF), an NGO with a long history of providing humanitarian assistance to DPRK medical institutions, told the Ambassador about his organization's new project to help Korean-Americans locate relatives in the DPRK. Li [...] |
2006-02-24 06:29:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL SOCI EAID KN KS |
| 06SEOUL615 | ROKG AGREES TO HOST INTER-AGENCY PSI OPERATIONAL [...] (C) As requested reftle, on February 21, we proposed a March 8 interagency meeting between the U.S. Proliferation Security Initiative Operational Experts delegation and their Korean counterparts. Deputy Director Park Chul-min of the Disarmament and Nonproliferation Division, Ministry of Fore [...] |
2006-02-24 08:32:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM MNUC KNNP JP KN KS |
| 06SEOUL631 | NEW ROK REPRESENTATIVE TO SOFA JOINT COMMITTEE [...] (U) Embassy received February 27 a diplomatic note announcing the appointment of Cho Taeyong, the new DG for North American Affairs Bureau, to be the new ROK representative to the SOFA Joint Committee. Full text of the note and DG Cho's bio follows. 2. (U) Begin Text: Ministry of Foreig [...] |
2006-02-27 08:53:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | MARR MASS PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL632 | ROH TO RESHUFFLE CABINET NEXT WEEK [...] (SBU) Roh Administration officials, including the Prime Minister, have signaled another partial Cabinet reshuffle to be announced next week. Three ministers -- Oh Geo-don (Maritime and Fisheries), Oh Young-kyo (Government Administration and Home Affairs), Lee Jae-yong (Environment) -- appear [...] |
2006-02-27 08:58:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR KS |
| 06SEOUL640 | ROK: HYUNMOO-III/B UAV 2ND TEST FLIGHT [...] No summary [...] |
2006-02-28 06:35:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PARM PREL MARR KS |
| 06SEOUL646 | NOGUN-RI MEMORIAL FUNDING TO EXPIRE SEPTEMBER 30, [...] (U) This is an action request. 2. (C) During a February 27 discussion, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers informed post that the funds allocated for the construction of the Nogun-ri memorial monument will expire on September 30, 2006, and that an extension of funding is probably not possibl [...] |
2006-03-02 01:13:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR KS |
| 06SEOUL657 | PROMINENT SCHOLAR SAYS U.S. SHOULD UNDERMINE DPRK [...] (SBU) Andrei Lankov, a prominent authority on the DPRK, told the Ambassador on February 27 that the United States should ignore the DPRK at a political level, as the Kim Jong-il regime was a threat only to its own people. He argued that a low-key effort to provide greater information to Nor [...] |
2006-03-02 07:53:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ECON SOCI KS KN |
| 06SEOUL658 | MOFAT PREVIEWS ROH MOO-HYUN'S MARCH 3 REMARKS FOR [...] (C) In a March 2 meeting with poloff, North America Division 1 Director Hahn Choong-hee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) previewed remarks to be delivered by President Roh Moo-hyun at the Korea Military Academy's March 3 commencement ceremony. According to Hahn, Roh will [...] |
2006-03-02 08:16:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MNUC MARR KN KS |
| 06SEOUL659 | ROH CRITICIZES JAPAN IN MARCH 1 SPEECH [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In a speech marking the 87th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement, President Roh offered clear, but relatively measured, criticism of the Koizumi government's handling of historical and territorial issues. He acknowledged that Japan had apologized for its wartime ag [...] |
2006-03-02 08:35:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KS JA |
| 06SEOUL663 | ROH ANNOUNCES CABINET RESHUFFLE [...] As previewed in reftel, Roh announced the resignation of five Cabinet ministers, four of whom will run in the May 31 regional elections. The Blue House announced replacements for four of the five positions: - Government Administration and Home Affairs: Lee Yong-seop, Blue House Senior Secr [...] |
2006-03-02 09:30:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR KS |
| 06SEOUL687 | ROK TO CONSIDER SUGGESTED ELEMENTS FOR NATIONAL [...] No summary [...] |
2006-03-03 08:25:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM KNNP IAEA IR KS |
| 06SEOUL688 | Korea's Finance Ministry Floats a Mini-"Big Bang" [...] Korea's Ministry of Finance and Economy (MOFE) has launched an impressive new raft of regulatory reform measures in the early months of 2006. According to ministry plans, regulations governing financial services will be cut drastically, with barriers separating traditional business domains e [...] |
2006-03-03 11:08:00 | Embassy Seoul | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ETRD PREL KS |
| 06SEOUL728 | OSD/NP COOPER MEETING WITH ROKG ON CWC/HCA [...] (C) During a cordial March 7 discussion, OSD Nonproliferation Policy Director Dr. David Cooper and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Disarmament and Nonproliferation Director Kwon Hee-seog exchanged views on the outstanding Chemical Weapons Convention Host Country Agreement. While recogn [...] |
2006-03-07 08:52:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM MARR KTIA CWC KS |
| 06SEOUL731 | INTER-KOREAN MILITARY TALKS CONCLUDE WITHOUT ANY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Two days of the inter-Korean general officer-level military talks ended on March 3 without any agreement on key agenda items. The ROK side had hoped to map out measures to reduce military tensions on the Peninsula and in the Yellow Sea. However, the DPRK's insistence on discuss [...] |
2006-03-07 22:33:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM KN KS |
| 06SEOUL740 | AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH SEOUL MAYOR LEE MYUNG-BAK [...] (C) SUMMARY: On March 7 the Ambassador met with Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak, a leading contender to become the opposition Grand National Party's (GNP)' nominee in next year's presidential election. Lee said that he was looking forward to his visit to the United States the week of March 13, in [...] |
2006-03-08 07:58:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL ABLD KS KN |
| 06SEOUL742 | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON RESTRICTING ROK ARMS [...] No summary [...] |
2006-03-08 08:14:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | MARR MASS PARM VE KS |
| 06SEOUL749 | BRITISH DCM IN PYONGYANG ON CONDITIONS IN NORTH [...] (C) British DCM to Pyongyang Lindsay Skoll told poloffs on March 6 that the Kim Jong-il regime displayed no signs of instability, opining that through the effective use of the state security apparatus and continued economic assistance from China and the ROK, the regime's staying power might be [...] |
2006-03-09 05:11:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ETRD PHUM EAGR KS KN |
| 06SEOUL758 | POINTS ON HAMAS DELIVERED TO ROK [...] No summary [...] |
2006-03-09 08:09:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL KS IS |
| 06SEOUL76 | ROK SCHOLARS BELIEVE DPRK "CLAMPING DOWN" IN [...] (SBU) Two ROK scholars believed the DPRK'S New Year's message for 2006 showed Pyongyang planned to brace itself |