Memorandum for Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Subject: North Korean Nuclear Issue and DC Meeting, February 7, 1992 (Secret)

DOC#45 OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301-2400

In reply refer to: I-92/08648

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

[DECLASSIFIED]

MEMORANDUM FOR UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR POLICY THROUGH: ASD/ISA [signature] FEB 1992 SUBJECT: North Korean Nuclear Issue and DC Meeting (U)

At a policy review of the North Korean nuclear issue chaired by AS Solomon on Monday, concerns which coincided with SECDEF/CJCS' concerns about North Korean stalling were raised. STATE/PM, ACDA, JCS, and OSD were disturbed that North Korean ratification of the IAEA safeguards agreement may not take place for two or more months, and certainly not by the previously promised date of February 19--when the sixth round of North-South ministerials take place. STATE/EAP, however, was sympathetic with the ROK strategy of putting the nuclear issue on a separate track from reconciliation, believing that the latter will lead to a solution of the former. EAP also had a very positive feeling from the New York meeting with the DPRK.

Although some believed that the ROKs should postpone the Feb 19 ministerials--since the ratification promise was made to the ROKs, most believed there was little chance that the ROKs would want to take such action. There was a feeling, however, that the Feb 19 ministerials going forth does have some benefits--specifically, it allows the Dec 31 "Joint Declaration for a Non-nuclear Korean Peninsula" to come into effect and the Joint Nuclear Control Commission (JNCC) to begin work on a bilateral inspection regime. A delay of these two events would not be in our interest. A cable was just sent to Seoul urging the South Koreans to press on Feb 7 during their working meeting at Panmunjom for North Korean ratification by Feb 19 and to lay down a marker for displeasure--short of threatening to cancel the Feb 19 meeting. The short-term strategy which we are probably heading toward is pressure on South Korea to place the seventh round of ministerials hostage to both sets of inspections being implemented. [WHICH IS OUR MAJOR CONCERN.]

In order to have at least this last strategy work, we need a Deputies Committee meeting to discuss the next steps. Next week would be an optimal time: (1) The DC could decide how to stiffen up the ROKs on bilateral inspections negotiations which begin on Feb 19. (2) The DC can decide on how to send a high-level message to the ROKs emphasizing the need to be firm on the nuclear issue. (Ron Lehman could return to Seoul next weekend to do both of the above.) (3) ACDA can review for the DC the results

[SECRET] Classified by: [illegible] Declassify on: [illegible]

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SECRET 2 of the ROK inspection training session and whether there is a sense the ROKs will negotiate a robust inspection regime. (4) The DC can discuss what kind of timelines can be set for North Korea on ratification. (5) The DC can discuss the "nooses" available to tighten around the North Koreans in the coming months should there be more stalling.

However, we have heard that US Kanter is not inclined to feel that a DC is necessary at this point. In order to convene a DC, USDP needs to persuade Mr. Kanter and ADM Howe that a DC is needed next week. Recommend that USDP call them this week to make the points as attached.

VR Eden

Attachment a/s

Reviewed by Acting DASD/EAPA Mike Mussomeli

I'm reluctant to make IAEA forum a centerpiece of our pressure on [illegible] North. Our longstanding concerns over reprocessing are best addressed by reiteration of non-nuclear principles.

[DECLASSIFIED BY JS, NSC, DOS, USD(P) DATE 05 Oct 2017 FOIA CASE # 12-F-1306]

[DECLASSIFIED]

SECRET

SECRET

USDP PHONE CALL TO ADM HOWE AND US KANTER

--WE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CLEAR INDICATIONS OF NORTH KOREAN STALLING. WE HEAR NOW RATIFICATION MAY BE MONTHS DOWNSTREAM.

--TO THIS DATE, NO INSPECTION HAS TAKEN PLACE.

--WE BELIEVE A DC NEXT WEEK IS VERY NECESSARY.

--THE DC NEEDS TO DISCUSS WHAT TIMELINES WE CAN ACCEPT FOR RATIFICATION

--ALSO, WHAT MESSAGE TO SEND TO THE ROKS BOTH ON BILATERAL INSPECTIONS NEGOTIATION AND ON THEIR FEB 19 MINISTERIALS

--FINALLY, THE DC SHOULD DISCUSS WHAT NOOSES ARE AVAILABLE TO TIGHTEN AROUND NORTH KOREA.

--SECRETARY CHENEY FEELS THAT A DC TO ADDRESS THESE POINTS IS NEEDED AT THIS TIME.

--I PROPOSE WE CONVENE A DC IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS THE NEXT STEPS.

[DECLASSIFIED]

SECRET CLASSIFIED BY EAPR DECLASS ON OADR

USD/P INTEROFFICE COORDINATION SHEET
1. DATE (YYMMDD)
92/02/06
2.
J- I-92/08648
3. SUBJECT
North Korea Nuclear Issue and DC Meeting (U)
4. CURRENT SUSPENSE DATE (YYMMDD)

5. SUMMARY (Describe briefly the origin, purpose, action recommended and coordination - (Attach original tasking - SD Form 76, etc.))
ORIGIN: self-initiated.
PURPOSE: To request USD/P call NSC and State to set up DC meeting on North Korea
RECOMMENDATION: That ASD/ISA initial memorandum next under
[illegible]

6. ROUTING
| SEQ NO. | DIR/OFC | INITIAL | DATE (MMDD) | SEQ NO. | DIR/OFC | INITIAL | DATE (MMDD) | SEQ NO. | DIR/OFC | INITIAL | DATE (MMDD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | USD/P | | | | ISP (Continued) | | | | PDUSD/S&R (Cont'd) | | |
| 3. | USD/P | | | | DIR EUR POL | | | | ADUSD(SED) | | |
| | AT USDP | | | | | | | | ADUSD(R&P) | | |
| | FMA | | | | DASD/NF&ACP | | | | D/CSO | | |
| | SA | | | | MA | | | | NET ASSESSMENT | | |
| | ADMIN | | | | TNF | | | | NA | | |
| | COMM MGT | | | | STRAT FORCES | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | ODUSD/SP | | |
| | ISA | | | | SACP | | | | DUSD/SP | | |
| 2 | ASD/ISA | | | | | | | | MA | | |
| | MA | | | | DASD/SDS&VP | | | | ADUSD/C&IS | | |
| | SA | | | | MA | | | | DIS | | |
| | PDASD/ISA | | | | VERIF POL | | | | POL SUPPORT | | |
| | MA | | | | SD & SPACE | | | | EMERG PLAN | | |
| | FMRA | | | | SPACE POLICY | | | | CCC | | |
| | | | | | | | | | SPEC ADV STF | | |
| | DASD/AFR | | | | DASD/CP&ACP | | | | PSYOP | | |
| | AFR | | | | MA | | | | | | |
| | | | | | EUR SEC NEGOT | | | | ODUSD/TSP | | |
| 1 | DASD/EAP | [illegible] | 2/6/92 | MULT-NEGOT | | | | DUSD/TSP | | |
| | EAP | | | | SO-LIC | | | | MA | | |
| | PW/MIA | | | | | | | | ADUSD/TSP | | |
| | | | | | ASD/SO-LIC | | | | DTSA | | |
| | | | | | MA | | | | DIR | | |
| | DASD/I-A | | | | PDASD/SO-LIC | | | | DIR-OPS | | |
| | I-A | | | | MA | | | | RESOURCE MGT | | |
| | | | | | | | | | IGA | | |
| | | | | | | | | | LICENSE | | |
| | DASD/NESA | | | | DASD/F&R | | | | TECHNOLOGY | | |
| | NESA | | | | DIR PA | | | | STRAT POLICY | | |
| | | | | | DIR B&E | | | | TSP DIR | | |
| | DASD/GA | | | | DIR A | | | | TECH SEC DPS | | |
| | HUMAN ASSIST | | | | | | | | DSAA | | |
| | NON-PROLIF | | | | DASD/P&R | | | | DIR | | |
| | ISP | | | | DIR PP | | | | DEP DIR | | |
| | ASD/ISP | | | | DIR R | | | | EXEC OFFICER | | |
| | MA | | | | | | | | COUNSEL | | |
| | SEC DEF REPS | | | | DASD/M&A | | | | PLANS | | |
| | PDASD/ISP | | | | DIR MA | | | | CONG REL | | |
| | MA | | | | DIR CT | | | | COMPT. | | |
| | | | | | PDUSD/S&R | | | | OPS | | |
| | DASD/EUR-NATO | | | | PDUSD/S&R | | | | OTHER | | |
| | EXEC OFFICER | | | | AT PDUSD/S&R | | | | | | |
| | PD EUR-NATO | | | | MA | | | | | | |
| | DIR NATO POL | | | | ADUSD(PP) | | | | | | |

7. NAME OF ORIGINATOR
COL Eden Y. Woon
8. DIRECTORATE/OFFICE
ISA/EAP
9. EXTENSION
x77757
10. SIGNATURE
[illegible]
SD Form 161, MAR 91
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Previous editions are obsolete.
2/7

DECLASSIFIED

NATIONAL SECURITY ARCHIVE

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