UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No C06089825 Date 05 19 2017 United States Department of State Washington D C 20520 RELEASE IN PART APPEALS PANEL ACTION BRIEFING MEMORAND $15 INFORMATION RELEASED 31 1410 586m Classi cation Extended on 11 23 2016 Class DECL 11 2 18 SECRET Authority DSCG 11-1 Declassify on 11 01 2023 TO The Secretary FROM BAP - Stanley 0 Roth SUBJECT Meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Hong Soon young APEC Kuala Lumpur TBD I 1 To express appreciation for cooperation and progress since the June summit between President Clinton and President Kim Dae-jung 2 To discuss North Korea policy including suspect underground construction missile tests implementation of the Agreed 1 Framework Four Party Talks and the appointment of the North Korea Policy Coordinator 3 To reassure the ROK regarding its defense needsl Bl 4 To seek ROK support-for APEC good governance initiatives IEi'fo express thanks for ROK support for democratization in Burma and seek continued cooperation from Seoul on human rights in Asia 6 To urge the ROK to continue its progress toward committing to an early binding emissions target II APPROACH This will be your third meeting with Korean Foreign Minister Hong since he took office in August You should reiterate how valuable yOur close consultation has been during this challenging period for policy toWard the DPRK and reaffirm commitment to continue policy coordination Since the June - Classified by EAP Stanley 0 Roth Reason E O 12958 1 5 b and UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No F-2014-12370 Doc No 008089325 Datez-05 19 2017 UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No 306089325 Date 05 19 2017 summit the 0 3 and the ROK have made progress on several commitments made at that time particularly on economic matters The 0 8 has shown continued strong support for Korea s economic reform program in international fora Under Secretary Eizenstat recently chaired bilateral Economic Subcabinet Consultations in Washington with a view to expanding bilateral economic cooperation In October the 0 3 and ROK reached an agreement on improving market access for 0 8 automakers in Korea -Negotiations are currently in progress on a Bilateral Investment Treaty and Overseas Private Investment Corporation OPIC President George Munoz recently traveled to Korea to promote for the resumption of OPIC activities there The Exim Bank has also established a $3 billion facility to support 0 8 exports to Korea You should note that the President s upcoming visit to Korea will reaffirm our commitment to both our security alliance and continued economic COOperation This meeting comes at'a critical time for our North Korea policy At the same time that APEC convenes in Kuala Lumpur Ambassador Kartman is leading a delegation to Pyongyang Nov 16 18 to engage the DPRK in discussions aimed at resolving our concerns regarding suspect underground construction You should stress that progress on both the underground construction and missile issues is absolutely essential to the continued viability of the Agreed Framework Reassure Bong that we appreciate the risks of confrontation with the DPRK and that we continue to believe that maintaining the Agreed Framework is hiahlv desirable I l- 1 Hong likely 6111 ofMEresident Kim's recent trip to Japan and the state of ROK-Japan relations Explain the role of the Congressionally mandated North Korea Policy Review Coordinator and note that we welcome the appointment You should review with Hong the outcome of the recent Four Party IaLks Oct 21-24 and seek his assessment of this round and ROK expectations of the next In the context of APEC express appreciation for ROK ieadership in the area of good governance and express our hope UNCLASSEFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No 006089325 Date 05 19 2017 B1 1 4 0 7 UNCLASSIFIEP U S Department of State Case No Doc Date 05 19 2017 geis- -3- that the ROK will speak out on this issue and the crucial role it plays in establishing the foundation for economic growth If time permits thank Hong for ROK support for democracy in Asia particularly Burma and seek a commitment to sign a statement of concern and support a strong resolution in UNGA Express appreciation for the ROK role at and urge the ROK Ep consider adopting binding emissions targets KEY ISSUES North Korea Recent events in North Korea -- including incursions into South Korea suspect underground construction and the August 31 missile launch over Japan -- have severely undermined support for the Agreed Framework both in Japan and in our CongreSs Although maintaining the Agreed Framework is highly desirable its continued viability now explicitly hinges on progress in curbing DPRK missile activities and in satisfying our concerns about suspect underground construction In FY99 Congress provided $35 million to KEDO for heavy fuel oil to be provided in tranches of $15 million and $20 million These are subject to certifications related to progress in peace talks spent fuel canning DPRK nuclear and missile activities satisfaction of U S concerns about suspect underground construction and the appointment of a North Korea Policy Coordinator Although we are making some headway in the various talks and spent fuel canning the underground construction and missiles issues are more problematic Nonetheless tangible results in these two areas are critical I Were the DRPK to launch another long range missile L I political support for the Agreed Framework in the JapaneSe'Diet and the U S Congress likely ould collapse Ambassador Kartman will lead a delegation to Pyongang November 16-18 to continue serious discussions aimed at satisfying our concerns on suspect underground construction 1 I During this trip Kartman will identify the site in question and urge the DPRK to commit to quick follow on discussions on this issue During this critical phase for U S policy toward the DPRK close consultation among the U S the ROK and Japan will be vital gorth Korea Policy Coordinator The ROK remains nervous about the implications of the Coordinator position The Coordinator UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No Doc No 006089325 Date 05 19 2017 UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No 006089325 Date 05 19 2017 whose tenure will be of limited duration will consult closely with the ROK as well as Japan as he undertakes this project We believe that the review will benefit the U S security alliance Four Party Talks The third plenary session of the Four Party Talks convened in Geneva from October 21 24 Our primary goal pr this session was to create momentum for the talks through the establishment of two working groups on Armistice replacement and tension reduction as agreed by the 0 8 and DPRK during New York bilateral discussions While continuing to insist on a bilateral peace treaty and the withdrawal of 0 8 troops from the Korean Peninsula the DPRK did agree to the establishment of working groups to address tension reduction and Armistice replacement However we are concerned about missile proliferation and the very real prospect of a regional missile race Holum and PM DAS Einhorn will meet with the ROKG in Seoul on November 12-13 to discuss the missile issue and ROK membership in MTCR We will undate you on results before your meeting with Hong APEC Issues The USG has focused on Korea as a logical partner in furthering good governance in APEC When you and UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No 006089325 Date 05 19 2017 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No Doc No 006089325 Date 05 19 2017 I the President raised the issue in meetings with President Kim last spring he responded positively We hope that President Kim will focus on the issue of good governance in 1 his remarks at APEC and thus play a leadership role among Asian nations on this issue Democracy in Asia South Korea has taken a more vocal role in urging the military junta in Burma to engage in meaningful dialogue with the democratic opposition Still South Korea s more forthright stance regarding Burma is not without perceived potential economic and political repercussions a concern that is amplified if it is the only Asian nation speaking out on the B1 - Climate Change As an OECD member with both a high emissions level and a large per capita GDP South Korea's participation is crucial to the success of climate change-efforts Korea played a constructive role at the recent Climate Change Conference of the Parties supporting our positions on flexibility mechanisms and emissions trading Korea continues however to resist the adoption of an early target citing its current economic crisis and negative growth implications An emissiOns target can be conducive to growth and Korea should consider adopting an early emissions target IV PRESS ARRANGEMENTS - TBD V PARTICIPANTS U S South Korea ghe Secretary FM Hong Soon-young - PA James P Rubin MOFAT Dir Gen Kwon Jong rak EAP Stanley 0 Roth others TBD Attachments Tab 1 - Checklist of Key Issues Tab 2 - Talking Points Tab 3 Biographic Information w UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No Doc No C06089325 Date 05 19 2017 UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No F-2014-12370 Doc No 306089325 Date 05 19 2017 o k pe SB Subject 11 2 98 7 6727 drafted EAP K REHotz cleared EAP RDeming EAP CKartman D RdeVillafranca info P DStraub ok OES DMarsh ok E DN0rland ok G NPurvis ok T DGross ok McClennytok approved EAP SORoth 21 15 LOT 22 00 055 gm UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No C06089325 Date 05 19 2017                     National Security Archive    Suite 701  Gelman Library  The George Washington University    2130 H Street  NW  Washington  D C  20037    Phone  202 994‐7000  Fax  202 994‐7005  nsarchiv@gwu edu