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FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
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RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 8051
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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0434
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001448 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR S/CRS, EAP/K 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2017 
TAGS: PREL KCRS KS
SUBJECT: S/CRS AMBASSADOR HERBST'S CONSULTATIONS IN SEOUL 
 
 
Classified By: Deputy Econ Chief Mike Spangler for Reasons 1.4 (B&D). 
 
SUMMARY 
----------------- 
¶1.  (SBU)  The U.S. and ROKG held a second round of 
consultations on reconstruction and stabilization (R&S) 
issues on April 26.   The U.S. delegation led by Coordinator 
for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) John Herbst 
obtained Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) Vice 
Minister Cho Jung-pyo's commitment to continued talks on 
potential R&S cooperation in post-conflict situations.  Cho 
also indicated the ROKG is willing to participate in possible 
quadrilateral meetings that might include Japan , the U.S., 
and the PRC, or trilaterals with Japan and the U.S..  End 
Summary. 
 
Vice Minister Cho 
------------------------ 
¶2.  (C)  In an initial call on MOFAT Vice Minister Cho, Amb. 
Herbst outlined the S/CRS mission to lead and coordinate U.S. 
civilian capability to prevent and prepare for post-conflict 
situations and thanked Cho for the ROKG's participation in 
consultations on R&S issues.    Noting Japan and the PRC were 
also being consulted on potential R&S cooperation, Herbst 
proposed including the ROKG, Japan, and the PRC in future 
quadrilateral meetings, if all parties agreed.  Cho described 
the R&S mission as "noble work" and committed to intensify 
discussions and information exchange on potential R&S 
cooperation.  Cho also indicated ROKG willingness to 
participate in future R&S meetings that might include Japan 
and the PRC.   Cho stressed that these quadrilaterals, if 
realized, should be devoted to identifying general R&S 
capabilities, with an eye on future cooperation, but not 
specific cases that might warrant cooperation among the 
parties.   Such decisions would have to be made by the ROKG 
on a case-by-case basis, Cho said.  When the Ambassador noted 
possible GoJ concern about R&S cooperation with the PRC, Cho 
also noted ROKG willingness to work in a trilateral format 
with the U.S. and Japan. 
 
U.S.- ROKG Consultations 
----------------------------------- 
¶3.  (SBU)  The second round of U.S.-ROKG consultations on R&S 
issues was co-chaired by Amb. Herbst and MOFAT Deputy 
Minister for Policy Planning and Internatinal Organizations 
Park In-kook.  The Korean side included representatives from 
MOFAT, the National Fire and Emergency Management Agency 
(NFEMA), and the Korean International Cooperation Agency 
(KOICA)..  (Participant list in para 9.) 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  MOFAT described in detail ROKG capabilities to 
respond to both natural disasters and R&S situations. 
Highlighting the need for rapid decision making and 
flexibility in such situations, Deputy Minister Park noted 
the National Assembly had recently adopted the Overseas 
Emergency Relief (OER) law that will go into effect in 
October 2007.  This law provides a legal framework for the 
systematic implementation of ROKG responses to disasters, 
both natural and man-made, during temporary periods of up to 
45 days.  MOFAT's Development Cooperation Division is 
formally tasked with disaster response, including training, 
equipment, coordination and mobilization.  To carry out its 
mission, the Division's budget has grown from USD 4 million 
in 2006 to USD 10 million in 2007.   At present, Deputy 
Minister Park noted the ROKG is able to move human resources 
to disasters in less than 24 hours, and shipped construction 
materials to Jakarta within 24 hours of the massive 
earthquake that occurred there in May 2006. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Ambassador Herbst described the S/CRS mission and 
plans to institutionalize USG civilian capacity to help 
stabilize and reconstruct states in transition from conflict 
to peace.  He also highlighted S/CRS efforts to recruit a 
civilian R&S corps under the effective control of the 
Secretary of State.  This corps will be comprised, inter 
 
SIPDIS 
alia, of engineers, law enforcement officials, health 
officials, economists, and public administrators to recreate 
the basic functions of government in post-conflict 
situations.  The S/CRS team provided materials on  S/CRS work 
to date and welcomed ROKG comment and critique by follow-up 
e-mail. 
 
¶6.  (C)  The ROKG delegation reviewed the experience of the 
ROKG Regional Reconstruction Team currently stationed in 
Erbil, Iraq.  Ambassador Herbst thanked the ROKG for its work 
there and in Afghanistan -- and noted the new OER law would 
provide the ROKG statutory basis to undertake additional R&S 
efforts.   In a later aside, Deputy Minister Park  told Amb. 
Herbst that the ROKG is giving serious consideration to what 
its future presence will be in Iraq and Afghanistan, because 
the National Assembly troop authorization is unlikely to be 
renewed by the end of 2007. 
 
Quadrilateral Talks 
------------------------ 
¶7.  (C)  During a working lunch, Deputy Minister Park was 
optimistic that the PRC would show interest in possible 
quadrilateral R&S consultations with the U.S., Japan, and the 
ROKG.   Park also suggested S/CRS meet with the OECD's 
Development Assistance Committee to identify additional R&S 
partners. 
 
NFEMA Visit 
------------------ 
¶8.  (SBU)  In a separate meeting, the S/CRS delegation 
visited the Seoul office of the National Fire and Emergency 
Management Agency (NFEMA).   Administered by the Ministry for 
Government and Home Affairs, the Seoul office responds to 
more than 9,000 emergency calls per day.  Approximately 120 
officials in three shifts provide 24-hour coverage with 
simultaneous translation in 16 languages.  Before this 
centralized situation room was created in 2002, all (civil 
incident/non-criminal) calls were routed to different fire 
stations throughout the city.   The center provides the 
opportunity for traveling foreigners to pre-register any 
special medical conditions and needs before arriving in 
Korea, thereby permitting swifter and more effective 
responses in cases of medical emergency. 
 
¶9.  (U)  Participants: 
 
ROKG 
Ambassador Park In-kook, Deputy Minister for Policy Planning 
and International Organizations, MOFAT 
Lee Yong-soo, Director of Development and Cooperation 
Division, MOFAT 
Do Bong-kae, Deputy Director of Development and Cooperation 
Division, MOFAT 
Park Sung-il, North America Division III, MOFAT 
Shim Pyoung-kang, Director of U-119 Team, NFEMA 
Roh, hyun-joon, Chief, Disaster Relief and Reconstruction Team 
 
U.S. 
Ambassador John Herbst, Coordinator for Reconstruction and 
Stabilization 
Scott Rolston, S/CRS Planning Officer 
COL William Lee, S/SRS Senior Military Advisor 
Mike Spangler, A/Econ Chief, Embassy Seoul 
Megan Bartholomew, Econ Officer, Embassy Seoul 
Shawn Duncan, Political Officer, Embassy Seoul 
 
¶10.  S/CRS cleared this cable. 
VERSHBOW