UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc NO 005648221 Date 12 05 2014 RELEASED IN PART Classification Extended on 10 25 2006 Class CONFIDENTIAL Authority DSCG 11-1 Declassify on 04 12 2023 PTQ3441 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ3441 PAGE 01 SEOUL 02078 01 OF 03 130206Z ACTION EAR-01 LOG-00 AQUA-08 ACDE-OO AID-00 ACQ-01 SMEC-OO c-00 DOEE-00 SRPP-OO DS-OO H-01 lM 01 TEDE-OO IO-OO LAB-01 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-OO 003-03 010 02 PA-OO PM-OO PRs-oo SGT-00 $30-00 33-00 T-OO NIsc-oo DRL-04 G-OO SAS-OO l029W 324120 1302032 APR 93 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9735 INFO AMEMBASSY TOKYO AMEMBASSY BEIJING AM EM BASSY MOSCOW USMISSION USUN NEW YORK SECDEF WASHDC NSC WASHDC COMUSKOREA SEOUL USCINCPAC HONOLULU I TIA SECTION 01 OF 03 SEOUL 002078 E O 12958 DECL 04 08 08 TAGS PREL KS KN SUBJECT MEETING WITH VICE FOREIGN MINISTER SUN JOUN- YUNG 1 CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 SEOUL 02078 01 OF 03 1302062 CLASSIFIED BY DCM RICHARD A CHRISTENSON REASON 1 5 B D 1 C SUMMARY IN AN APRIL 8 MEETING PICKERING AND ROK VICE FOREIGN MINISTER SUN JOUN-YUNG DISCUSSED KEDO NORTH- SOUTH DIALOGUE THE REGIONAL FINANCIAL CRISIS AND PRESIDENT KIM UPCOMING STATE VISIT TO BEVIEW AUTHORITY Paul Blackburn Senior Reviewe UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No 005648221 Date 12 05 2014 3990 91918 IUGUJUBCIQG SV OCIEM CINV CINV EONVLSISSV EHJ HELSINIW EOIA EH L OJ HELSINIW EHJ J VHM AHEHO O L NI VEEIOM OJ ATIVWHOE CIVH HELSINIW CIEJ ON HELSINIW EOIA EH L O '17 EHJ HOE EHJ SV 3V NOISSHOSIG CINIM SIH L 80 0100M AHLSINIW NOIEHOE EH L NOISEEI EH L NI HECIEIO OIWONOQE CINV EH L SSHOSICI OJ NV SI J I ESDVOEEI SIH EONIS LISIA EJ V LS LSEIIE EHJ E8 TIIM LI ESFIVOEQ J ON SIH SEITIVA WIN J VH L an HELSINIW EOIA LISIA EH L EM SV SHOOE LHEJIW SECIIS HOIHNI NO VEEIV ENO EEI LHSIW SEIJ MIEFIOES NVISV LSVEHLEION NOLLITIOAE EHJ NO SVECII CIELVNIOSVE 081V J VH L SNIMNIHL GNIM EWVS EHJ NOISEH EHJ NI SWVOE LHOEIV EWOS ENOCI CIVI-I EHJ CIIVS VCINEEDV 8 ZQOZOQI 90 ID 81020 90 saumuov GNV swoa mo J33 01 NV 38 mnom seNnr-ava wm '9 - - SLISIA HELSINIW LEEW O L NOOS AHEA BNIWOO NI GELSEHELNI ATIVFIOE SVM SIH CINV SNLLEEW GNV EHJ EEIENI J ON NIEN EH L NI NOLONIHSVM NI SVNI EEIEHL J VH L CIE LON ONU EHJ NEENLLES SELL NEHLONEEILS EH I J VH L SNIAHESEIO NI EBNVEIEIV 8 980 EHJ HOE N08 HELSINIW EOIA SIH O '3 CINE EHJ NO CIECINELLV BNOP NONIM 8 SV HOSSEOODS SIH CINV NVMH HLEION NV LNV LSISSV SNOH IOHO HELSINIW NBIEHOE MEN HEMVLELON CINV HVEHS EHEM SNILEEW EHJ NI S n NOLSNIHSVNI 300 9990 911918 I0 UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No 005648221 Date 12 05 2014 WHEN PICKERING REMARKED THAT HE HAD TOLD THE SECRETARY THAT HE WOULD RESOLVE KEDO EVEN BEFORE HER TRIP TO SEOUL THE VICE MINISTER LAUGHED AND SAID WE DO IT ONLY HERE ONE LEADERSHIP IN TIME OF CRISIS 5 C THE US LEADERSHIP IN WASHINGTON FOLLOWED EVENTS CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 SEOUL 02078 01 OF 03 1302062 IN KOREA CLOSELY AND WITH CARE PICKERING KOREA WAS A DAILY TOPIC ON THE AGENDAS OF THE SECRETARY DEPUTY SECRETARY AND THE UNDER SECRETARY HIMSELF NONETHELESS UPPERMOST IN OUR FOCUS WOULD BE THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN KOREA AND THE REGION THE UNDER SECRETARY REMARKED NOTING THAT THE USG WAS ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED AT THE LEADERSHIP DISPLAYED BY KIM AND THE KOREAN GOVERNMENT DURING THIS FINANCIAL CRISIS THE NEW ADMINISTRATION HAD ADDRESSED WITH FORCEFULNESS AND STRENGTH THE STEPS NECESSARY TO GET KOREA OUT OF ITS FINANCIAL CRISIS IF THERE WAS ANY WORRY IT WAS THAT RECENT SUCCESS WOULD LEAD KOREANS TO THINK PREMATURELY THAT THE CRISIS WAS OVER THE ROK SHOULD GUARD AGAINST OVERCONFIDENCE BECAUSE THE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS OF THE REGION WERE ALL INTERRELATED INDONESIA WAS IN A PERILOUS SITUATION AND JAPAN HAD AREAS OF FRAGILITY DESPITE UNDERLYING RECENT STOCK MARKET AND CURRENCY CHANGES IN JAPAN REFLECTED UNCERTAINTY ABOUT JAPAN THE PROBLEM WAS IF JAPAN SNEEZED BOTH THE US AND KOREA COULD GET A COLD 6 C THE VICE MINISTER EXPRESSED DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTIVE AND POSITIVE ROLE IN HELPING TO HEAD OFF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS AND DEVELOP THE IMF CONFIDENTIAL UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No 005648221 Date 12 05 2014 UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No C05648221 Date 12 05 2014 CONFIDENTIAL PTO3442 PAGE 01 SEOUL 02078 02 OF 03 1302062 ACTION EAP-O1 INFO LOG-00 ACDE-00 AID-00 C-00 SRPP-00 EUR-01 FBIE-OO H-01 IO-00 LAB-01 L-01 ADS-00 M-00 NSAE-OO OCS-03 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-OO PM-OO PRS-OO P-OO CEO- 00 SGT-00 SP-OO SSO-00 SS-OO TRSE-OO PMB-OO DSCC-OO DRL-04 G-OO SAS-OO 34 1 302062 38 0 1302032 APR 98 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9736 IN FO AMEMBASSY TOKYO AMEMBASSY BEIJING AMEM BASSY MOSCOW USMISSION USUN NEWYORK SECDEF WASHDC NSC WASHDC COMUSKOREA SEOUL USCINCPAC HONOLULU I I A SECTION 02 OF 03 SEOUL 002078 E O 12958 DECL 04 08 08 TAGS PREL KS KN SUBJECT MEETING WITH VICE FOREIGN MINISTER SUN JOUN-YUNG CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 SEOUL 02078 02 OF 03 1302062 PACKAGE THE KOREAN GOVERNMENT WAS FULLY COMMITTED TO CARRYING OUT THE IMF-MANDATED PROCEDURES AND LIVING UP TO ALL THE CONDITIONS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS CAUSED PAIN IN SOME AREAS HE THEN WENT ON TO REQUEST USG UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Dec No 005648221 Date 12 05 2014 UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No C05648221 Date 12 05 2014 ASSISTANCE WITH THE IMF DISBURSEMENTS THAT FORM THE SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE THE ROKG UNDERSTOOD THAT VERY STRICT REQUIREMENTS WERE ATTACHED TO THESE FUNDSGIVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO DISBURSE THEM SINCE IT ALSO AFFECTED CONTRIBUTIONS OF OTHER NATIONS HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE USG WOULD HAVE THE TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN MOVING BEYOND FERTILIZER IN BEIJING 7 C ANOTHER ISSUE OF GREAT INTEREST WAS THE EMERGING DIALOGUE WHICH THE USG FULLY SUPPORTS PICKERING SAID IT IS IMPORTANT TO FIND ALL CONCEIVABLE WAYS TO ACHIEVE DIALOGUE WITH THE NORTH TO BRING IT INTO THE WORLD COMMUNITY AND FIND A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA 8 C SEOUL AND PYONGYANG HAD AGREED TO HOLD THREE DAYS OF OFFICIAL TALKS AT THE VICE MINISTER LEVEL IN BEIJING ON SATURDAY APRIL 11 VICE MINISTER SUN CONFIRMED THE SOUTH WOULD BE REPRESENTED BY THE VICE MINISTER OF THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS STILL NOT KNOWN WHILE THE PROVISION OF FERTILIZER WOULD BE ONE TOPIC IN BEIJING THE ROKG WANTED TO MOVE BEYOND THIS AND EVEN THE NORTH HAD PROPOSED DISCUSSING ITEMS OF MUTUAL THE ROK WANTED TO TALK ABOUT AN CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 SEOUL 02078 02 OF 03 1302062 EXCHANGE OF SPECIAL ENVOYS AND ABOUT WAYS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF SEPARATED FAMILIES SUN PROFESSED HIMSELF ABOUT PROSPECTS FOR THE TALKS SAYING THAT THE NORTH KOREAN LEADERSHIP HAD A ABOUT THE ROK PROPOSAL FOR SPECIAL ENVOYS PYONGYANG HAD FOUND KIM PLEDGE TO SEPARATE POLITICS AND ECONOMICS DELICATE BALANCE IN DIALOGUE WITH DPRK 9 C THE VICE MINISTER ASSURED PICKERING THAT KOREA WOULD CONTINUE TO CONSULT CLOSELY WITH THE US ON THE BILATERAL DIALOGUE BECAUSE THE ROKG APPRECIATED THE AND ROLE THE KOREAN GOVERNMENT ALSO SAWA BETWEEN THE FOUR PARTY TALKS AND THE BILATERAL NORTH-SOUTH DIALOGUE AND WOULD CONTINUE TO REINFORCE THE GENEVA PROCESS IN THE ASSESSMENT THE RECENT PLENARY IN GENEVA HAD BEEN UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No 005648221 Date 12 05 2014 4l UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case NO Doc No 005648221 Date 12 05 2014 A SUCCESS IN THE SENSE IT HAD CONTINUED TO KEEP THE DPRK ON BOARD SOUTH KOREA WOULD ALSO SEEK TO EXPLOIT ANY OTHER CHANNEL LIKE GENERAL OFFICER TALKS WHICH WAS AVAILABLE 10 C IT WAS HARD TO BE OPTIMISTIC AT THE END OF THE GENEVA PLENARY PICKERING SAID NOTING THAT THERE HAD BEEN LOW EXPECTATIONS GOING INTO THE MEETINGS THE NORTH HAD USED ITS TYPICAL METHODS BEING OBSTREPEROUS APPLYING PRESSURE AND THEN RELENTING IN THE END NONETHELESS THE GENEVA SESSION HAD PRESERVED THE INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIP AND KEPT AN OPEN DOOR FOR CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 SEOUL 02078 02 OF 03 1302062 WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK ON NEXT STEPS THE USG WAS OF COURSE VERY INTERESTED IN THE OUTCOME OF THE BEIJING TALKS B1 ITHE USG WOULD WANT TO 1-4ID CONSULT ON HOW THE ROKG WILL BROADEN THE TALKS AND HOW WE SHOULD CONTINUE THE FOUR PARTY THERE COULD BE A VERY VALUABLE TACTICAL THAT GIVES US USEFUL LEVERAGE WITH THE NORTH THE PROPOSED GENERAL OFFICER TALKS COULD BE A THIRD ARENA FOR CONTACT AND COULD AVOID SERIOUS MISCALCULATION AND CONFUSION ARISING OUT OF MILITARY MISSTEPS DEEP CONCERN ABOUT KEDO 11 C THE USG WAS VERYCONCERNED ABOUT KEDO THE LIGHT WATER REACTOR PROJECT LWR AND HEAVY FUEL OIL HFO THE UNDER SECRETARY EMPHASIZED B1 THE RECENT COMPLAINTS 14 0 ABOUT LACK OF PROGRESS ON THE LWR AND HFO REFLECTED CONFIDENTIAL UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No 005648221 Date 12 05 2014 UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No F-2014-12152 DOC No C05648221 Date 12 05 2014 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ3443 PAGE 01 SEOUL 02078 03 OF 03 1302062 ACTION EAP-01 INFO LOG-00 ACDA-08 AID-00 CA-02 CIAE-OO SMEC-OO SRPP-OO DS-OO EUR-01 IMMC-01 IM-O1 TEDE-OO LAB-01 L-01 M-OO OCS-03 OIC-O2 OMB-01 PA-OO PM-OO P-OO SGT-00 88-00 SNIS-OO NISC-DD PMB-OO DSCC-OO G-OO SAS-OO 1029W 36 130206Z 138 130203Z APR 98 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9737 INFO AMEMBASSY TOKYO AMEMBASSY BEIJING AM EM BASSY MOSCOW USMISSION USUN NEWYORK SECDEF WASHDC NSC WASHDC COMUSKOREA SEOUL USCINCPAC HONOLULU I I A SECTION 03 OF 03 SEOUL 002078 50 12958 DECL 04 08 08 TAGS PREL KS KN SUBJECT MEETING WITH VICE FOREIGN MINISTER SUN JOUN-YUNG CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 SEOUL 02078 03 OF 03 130206Z PARANOIA THEY WERE ALSO DELETERIOUS TO OUR INTERESTS IF UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No C05648221 Date 12 05 2014 UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No F-2014-12152 Doc No 005648221 Date 12 05 2014 3 NOT THREATENING IF PYONGYANG SENSES WE WILL BETRAY OUR COMMITMENTS TO THEM THEY WILL LOOK FOR A REASON TO BETRAY THEIR COMMITMENTS TO US THIS ISSUE COULD ALSO AFFECT THE BILATERAL DIALOGUE 12 C THE VICE FOREIGN MINISTER AGREED THAT KEDO WAS NOT AN EASY TASK AT THE MARCH 19 KEDO EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING THE ISSUES WERE SO DIFFICULT THAT COMMON SOLUTIONS HAD ELUDED US PICKERING PROPOSED THAT THE ON THE ISSUE IT WAS I31 IMPERATIVE TO FIND ANSWERS AS SOON AS WE NOT ALLOW SOMETHING THAT TOOK SO LONG TO PUT TOGETHER TO GET OFF TRACK NOW 13 U UNDERSECRETARY PICKERING APPROVED THIS CABLE AFTER HIS DEPARTURE BOSWORTH CONFIDENTIAL UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No F-2014-12152 Doc No C05648221 Date 12 05 2014 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 This document is from the holdings of The 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