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  기 밀 SEOUL 001844


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  국방부망 배표¹⁾


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  행정명령 12958: 비밀해제: 09/17/2018


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  태그: PBTS ²⁾, PGOV ³⁾, PHSA ⁴⁾, PINS ⁵⁾, MARR ⁶⁾, KS ⁷⁾, KN ⁸⁾


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  제목: 안보정책구상 비공개 회의: 이라크, 아프간, 방위비분담, 안보협의회의


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  참조: 가. REF: A)국무장관⁹⁾ 96122 (이라크 연합군 변경책)¹⁰⁾


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  나. B) 국무장관¹¹⁾ 93225 (아프간국군 변경책)¹²⁾
  
  


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  분류자: 정치 공사 참사관 조셉 윤¹³⁾ 근거 1.4 (b/d).
  
  


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  번역자: PoirotKr (번역 주: 트위터 사용자명) — Micheal H. Rhee 2011/09/30 12:37

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001844
 
SIPDIS
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2018
TAGS: PBTS PGOV PHSA PINS MARR KS KN
SUBJECT: SPI CLOSED SESSION: IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, BURDEN
SHARING, SCM AGENDA
 
REF: A. REF: A) SECSTATE 96122 (IRAQ COALITION DEMARCHE)
¶B. B) SECSTATE 93225 (ANA DEMARCHE)
 
Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun REASONS 1.4 (b/d).
 
¶1. (CO) SUMMARY: DASD David Sedney met with MND Deputy
Minister Jeon on September 10 for a closed meeting of the
U.S.-ROK Security Policy Initiative (SPI). The discussed the
following four issues:
 
-- DASD Sedney informed DM Jeon of the reftel A decision that
would result in the drawdown in Iraq of all remaining ROK
troops by the end of this year. Jeon called it good news.
 
-- Sedney urged the ROKG to send a survey team to Afghanistan
to shape South Korea's stabilization and development package
for 2009. He explained why it was so important for the ROK
to send a clear signal that it would not stand by and allow
the terrorists to win.
 
-- DM Jeon praised the joint effort to work out a solution to
the Combined Defense Improvements Project (CDIP) funding
shortfall problem. They agreed that when a satisfactory
solution was reached, the issue could be dropped as an
element in the SMA burden-sharing negotiations.
 
-- Jean and Sedney agreed (partly due to changing
circumstances, e.g. the reported illness of DPRK leader Kim
Jong-il) to set the agenda for the October 17 Security
Consultative Meeting in Washington at a later date. END
SUMMARY
 
¶2. (CO) David Sedney, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
for East Asia, met with Jeon Jei-guk, Republic of Korea
Deputy Minister for Policy and Public Affairs, on September
10 for a closed meeting of the U.S.-ROK Security Policy
Initiative (SPI) prior to the start of the SPI Plenary. DASD
Sedney was also accompanied by EAP/K Director Kurt Tong and
U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) J5 Major General Frank Panter.
During the meeting they discussed four of the more sensitive
Alliance issues: Iraq, Afghanistan, the Combined Defense
Improvements Project (CDIP) funding issue, and the agenda for
the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) to be held in
Washington on October 17. Commenting on those topics, DM
Jeon stated that they are sensitive not because of any
fundamental differences between the U.S. and ROK, but because
a segment of the ROK population would criticize the results
if we were not careful as to how we addressed and resolved
those concerns.
 
IRAQ: ZAYTUN UNIT COMING HOME
------------------------------
 
¶3. (CO) DASD Sedney began the meeting by informing DM Jeon
that EAP Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill had notified
the ROK Ambassador to the U.S. that the Government of Iraq
was planning to announce its decision on the composition of
Coalition forces for 2009, and that the ROK's Zaytun Unit
would not be asked to remain in Irbil beyond the end of this
year. Sedney delivered ref A talking points and explained
that the decision was the result of internal deliberations
by, and with, the Government of Iraq, and was also due to the
fact that there has been great progress throughout Iraq,
including in the north where the ROK's mission in Northern
Iraq had been successful. DASD Sedney praised the ROK's
Zaytun Unit -- citing their courage and performance -- and
expressed the USG's deep appreciation for their contribution.
He cited the President's September 9 speech at the National
Defense University in which he announced the U.S. would
reduce the level of our own forces in Iraq by 8,000 troops in
keeping with our policy of "Return on Success."
 
¶4. (CO) Deputy Minister Jeon said it was very good news that
the situation in Iraq was improving, and that some U.S.
troops would be able to leave Iraq soon. He said that was
all due to the passion and effort of the United States toward
peace and stability. He added that once the ROK troops had
returned to Korea he was sure the ROKG would be able to find
other ways to contribute to the Alliance, including
 
strengthening our combined defense against the DPRK. I am
glad that we could start off this SPI with good news, Jeon
said.
 
AFGHANISTAN: ROK SURVEY TEAM
-----------------------------
 
¶5. (CO) Turning to Afghanistan, Deputy Minister Jeon informed
DASD Sedney that as a result of the USG ref B demarche on the
need for assistance in growing the Afghan National Army
(ANA), the ROKG was undertaking a comprehensive review of the
assistance package it would provide in 2009. Sedney urged
that the ROKG send a survey team to Afghanistan as soon as
possible, comprising representatives of all relevant
agencies, for the purpose of developing an expert
understanding of the situation on the ground and a clearer
sense of the kinds of ROK assistance that would be most
helpful there. He explained that the ANA demarche was a
global call for financial support and urged the ROK respond
positively. At the same time, we encouraged the ROKG to
carry out a survey focused on the provision of military
forces, police training, and equipment.
 
¶6. (CO) Mr. Sedney explained it is so important for the ROK
to "come back to Afghanistan." He stated that if the ROK
gives in to the Taliban we all lose in the War on Terror.
Sedney noted the Taliban message to the ROK (REF: Negroponte
cable) trying to intimidate the ROK. Submitting to this
pressure lets the Taliban win. In August, noting that
President Sarkozy had flown to Afghanistan, had announced
French troops would continue in Afghanistan, and had stated
that France would never allow the terrorists to win. Sedney
urged the ROKG to make a similar statement in word and deed
as soon as it was ready to do so. Jeon replied only that he
would "reflect" upon what DASD Sedney had said, while MOFAT
North American Affairs DDG Lee Baek-soon added that the ROK
would do "what was within its capacity."
 
CDIP: A SOLUTION IN THE WORKS
------------------------------
¶7. (CO) DM Jeon praised General Panter and his ROK
counterpart, MND International Policy Bureau DDG Choi, for
their efforts to work out a solution to the shortfall in ROK
funding for past Combined Defense Improvements Project (CDIP)
obligations. He said he understood that the situation was
less than ideal, but that a solution was taking shape that he
hoped would soon resolve the situation. (Note: After earlier
claiming it would be unable to fund any portion of the
shortfall, MND has proposed to provide USD 98 million over
the next three years to build a much needed second runway at
Osan Airbase. The U.S. has requested that the ROK also fund
USD 16 million for improvements in the HTACC at Osan).
General Panter stated that if a satisfactory solution could
be found, USFK would be willing to drop the issue from the
Special Measures Agreement (burden-sharing) negotiation as
the MOFAT chief negotiator had requested. DDG Choi stated
that big strides had been taken and the he was confident an
acceptable solution was forthcoming.
 
DE-POLITICIZING ALLIANCE ISSUES
-------------------------------
 
¶8. (CO) In response to a request from Jeon that the CDIP
issue be handled quietly, and that the U.S. keep other
sensitive Alliance issues -- e.g. SMA and camp returns -- out
of the media spotlight, DASD Sedney pointed to a quote in the
Korean papers from the ROK Ministry of the Environment that
had made headlines that very morning on the issue of camp
returns. He said he was surprised and disappointed at the
story, which contained false information, and pointed out
that it put him in the difficult position of either allowing
the falsehoods to remain unchallenged, or publicly disputing
them -- both bad choices. MOFAT DDG Lee stated that MOFAT
had discussed the matter with MOE after seeing the leak, but
that MOE had claimed a member of the National Assembly was
responsible for it, and that it had not been their intention
to put out misleading information. DDG Lee said MOFAT had
considered publicly correcting the record, but had elected
not to do so in the end to avoid adding to the attention
 
being given to the story.
 
SCM AGENDA: TBD
----------------
 
¶9. (CO) The final item discussed in the SPI closed session
was the agenda for the SECDEF-ROK DEFMIN SCM meeting to be
held in Washington on October 17. However, due to a shortage
of time and the fact that developing news over the health of
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and other matters could
greatly impact the final agenda, DASD Sedney and DM Jeon both
agreed to discuss the agenda later.
 
¶10. (UN) This report has been cleared by DASD Sedney.
VERSHBOW