VZCZCXYZ0007
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #5268 0192334
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 192327Z JAN 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO COMUSKOREA CP SEOUL KOR PRIORITY

UNCLAS STATE 005268 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD SOCI KN KS
SUBJECT: EAP FO MEETING WITH ROK NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS 
 
Sensitive But Unclassified, Please Protect Accordingly. 
 
Summary 
--------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) On January 14, PDAS Joe Donovan met with nine 
members of the Republic of Korea (ROK) National Assembly 
(NA).  The NA members were on a trip sponsored by the Korean 
Economic Institute, and represented a cross section of the 
ROK legislature, six from the ruling Grand National Party 
(GNP), two from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and 
one from the smaller Liberty Forward Party (LFP).  PDAS 
Donovan gave a brief overview of ROK-U.S. relations and the 
importance of the U.S.-ROK alliance.  After his brief, he 
invited the NA members to ask questions or comment on issues 
such as the Afghanistan PRT, military camp returns, and OPCON 
transfer.  End Summary. 
 
Questions from ROK NA Members 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) The first NA member to ask questions was Kim Sung-su 
who represents Dongducheon which is home to Camp Casey of the 
U.S. 2nd Infantry Division.  Representative Kim wanted to 
know when Camp Casey will be returned to his local government 
as the USFK realigns its forces around the central facilities 
south of Seoul.  He also asked why separate parcels belonging 
to USFK, for training grounds that are not utilized, cannot 
be returned separately--sooner than Camp Casey.  Kim claims 
that the parcels have never been used by the U.S. military. 
Kim also inquired why base realignment has been delayed and 
noting that Korean officials have indicated that the delay 
stems from U.S. insistence that South Korea pay 100 percent 
of the relocation costs.  Finally he stated that after Camp 
Casey is returned, the local government would like to have a 
memorial event to recognize the over 750,000 U.S. soldiers 
who have served in Korea since the U.S.-ROK alliance began, 
and requested Department assistance in coordinating such a 
future event. 
 
¶3. (SBU) PDAS Donovan explained that the base realignment and 
camp returns were ongoing and that both sides expected to 
complete the next handover imminently, for Camp Hialeah, the 
Kimpo mail facility and some training ranges.  Donovan 
explained that the entire process was a joint effort of the 
U.S. DoD and the ROK MND.  Donovan promised to coordinate 
with Embassy Seoul and USFK to provide additional information 
to Representative Kim's office. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Representative Yun Sang-hyun of Incheon asked about 
OPCON transition.  Mr. Yun stated that many people in the ROK 
are concerned that the timing is not right for wartime 
operational control to be turned over to the ROK Ministry of 
National Defense.  Yun noted a ROKG favored plan to reduce 
the number of U.S. troops stationed in the ROK during the Roh 
Administration that was changed in the current administration 
due to the DPRK nuclear threat.  Yun suggested that until the 
DPRK nuclear program was eliminated wartime operational 
control should remain with USFK.  Donovan explained that 
during his most recent trip to Seoul, he met with the USFK 
commander, General Sharp.  Donovan stated that Sharp 
confirmed that the ROK forces would be ready to takeover 
wartime control, and that USFK had complete confidence in the 
capabilities of the ROK military.  Furthermore, Donovan said 
that OPCON transfer does not mean the U.S. forces will not be 
there to support the ROK military. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Representative Yun acknowledged PDAS Donovan,s 
point, but wondered if OPCON transition in 2012 would send 
the wrong message to North Korea.  Donovan replied that it is 
difficult to guess how North Korea will receive any message, 
but our close coordination will show the alliance is strong. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Representative Lee Jin-sam, a retired ROK general 
and former Army Chief of Staff commented on how all Koreans 
should be thankful for the sacrifices and contributions of 
the U.S. soldiers who have served in Korea.  He also stated 
that he has met with USFK,s General Sharp on several 
occasions and that he feels that Sharp is doing an 
outstanding job as USFK Commander.  Lee said that Sharp 
informed him that tour normalization for USFK troops was a 
high priority and he hope that the U.S. and ROK could work 
together to assure that schools and other facilities were in 
place to support the reconsolidation of USFK troops and allow 
tour normalization.  Lee also mentioned that the passage of 
the KORUS FTA would be a great way to culminate our alliance 
and friendship.  Representative Lee also said that while in 
the early part of President Lee Myung-bak's presidency 
North-South relations were difficult, the relationship seemed 
to have thawed since Ambassador Bosworth,s trip to Pyongyang 
in December.  PDAS Donovan stated that we are hopeful that 
North-South relations continue to approve and thanked Lee for 
his kind words and the vote of confidence for General Sharp. 
Donovan promised to mention Lee,s statement the next time he 
talks to Sharp. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Representative Choi Kyu-sung from Northern Cholla 
Province asked about Kunsan Airbase (AB), which is located in 
his district.  The Provincial government has requested USFK 
permission to utilize Kunsan AB runways to allow 
international flights to land directly in Cholla Province. 
He also inquired about U.S. views on resuming food aid to the 
North, referring to ROK aid to the people of North Korea. 
Donovan responded that ROK food aid should be decided by the 
ROKG, however the U.S. policy is not to link food aid and 
other forms of humanitarian assistance to the 
political/security situation (like participation in the Six 
Party Talks).  That said, PDAS Donovan stressed that 
monitoring was very important.  On the Kunsan AB issue, he 
informed Mr. Choi that such issues were for the Department of 
Defense to decide. 
 
¶8. (U) Participants: 
 
The United States 
 
EAP PDAS Joe Donovan 
EAP/K Acting Director Dan Larsen 
EAP/K Brian Peterson (Note taker) 
 
The Republic of Korea 
 
Representative Kim Gi-hyeon, GNP--Ulsan 
Representative Son Beom-gyu, GNP-- Goyang city 
Representative Kim Sung-su, GNP--Dongducheon 
Representative Hwang Young-cheul, GNP--Hoingsung County 
Representative Yoon Sang-hyun, GNP--Incheon 
Representative Kim Choon-jin, DP-- Buan County 
Representative Choi Kyu-sung, DP--Gimje 
Representative Lee Jin-sam, LFP-- Buyeo and Chungyang 
ROK Embassy Lee Kwang-suk, Econoff (Note taker) 
 
¶9. (U) This cable was cleared by PDAS Donovan. 
CLINTON