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Cable, State 69911 to Amembassy Bangkok, April 18, 1998, Subject: Official-Informal for Assistant Secretary Stanley O. Roth (Secret) (Non-responsive material redacted)

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National Security Archive

June 1, 202610 min read

This cable sends the State Department's "road maps" to guide Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Stanley Roth in his meetings with South Korea and other governments. The first section of the cable provides the "Korea Road Map." Roth's primary goal in Seoul was to size up

Source: Cable, State 69911 to Amembassy Bangkok, April 18, 1998, Subject: Official-Informal for Assistant Secretary Stanley O. Roth (Secret) (Non-responsive material redacted) Date: Apr 18, 1998 Collection: Engaging North Korea II: Evidence from the Clinton Administration Dec 8, 2017


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UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-12152 Doc No. C05648224 Date: 11/25/2014 RELEASED IN PART NR

PTQ9357 NON-RESPONSIVE PORTIONS REDACTED

SECRET PTO6674

PAGE 01 STATE 069911 180129Z ORIGIN EAP-01

INFO LOG-00 CCO-00 TEDE-00 ADS-00 ONY-00 SSO-00 SAS-00 /001R

069911 SOURCE: KODAKC.018004 DRAFTED BY: EAP/FO:RMHALL:JSJ - 04/17/98 647-6800 APPROVED BY: EAP/FO:JJFOSTER EAP/FO:JJFOSTER S/S-O:JAMCVERRY DESIRED DISTRIBUTION: EAP/FO ------------------348DDD 180135Z /38 O 180128Z APR 98 ZFF4 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO AMEMBASSY BANGKOK NIACT IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE NIACT IMMEDIATE

S E C R E T STATE 069911

OFFICIAL INFORMAL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/17/08 TAGS: AMGT SUBJECT: OFFICIAL-INFORMAL FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY STANLEY O. ROTH

(U) NIACT IMMEDIATE PRECEDENCE AUTHORIZED BY EAP SPECIAL ASSISTANT JIM FOSTER DUE TO THE NEED FOR URGENT CLEARANCE ON THE ATTACHED BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROTH WHO IS TRAVELING. SECRET

REVIEW AUTHORITY: Paul Blackburn, Senior Reviewer

SECRET

PAGE 02 STATE 069911 180129Z

(U) CLASSIFIED BY EAP SPECIAL ASSISTANT JIM FOSTER, REASON 1.5 (D)

  1. (U) FOR A/S STANLEY O. ROTH. PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-12152 Doc No. C05648224 Date: 11/25/2014

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UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-12152 Doc No. C05648224 Date: 11/25/2014

ROADMAPS FOR THE SECRETARY. YOUR COMMENTS ARE APPRECIATED ASAP SO WE CAN MAKE CHANGES ON MONDAY FOR YOUR REVIEW OF THE COMPLETED PACKAGE ON TUESDAY. BEGIN ROAD MAP TEXTS:

  1. (C) KOREA ROAD MAP

THE OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE FOR YOUR VISIT TO SEOUL WILL BE TO SIZE UP PRESIDENT KIM'S NEW FOREIGN POLICY TEAM AND PREPARE FOR HIS JUNE STATE VISIT, WHICH SHOULD BE AN OCCASION TO CELEBRATE THE MATURATION OF KOREAN DEMOCRACY THAT KIM'S ELECTION REPRESENTS. YOUR FOREIGN POLICY DISCUSSIONS WILL CENTER ON NORTH KOREA. YOU WILL WANT A THOROUGH DEBRIEF ON RECENT NORTH-SOUTH DIALOGUE AND TO DISCUSS NEXT STEPS IN THE FOUR PARTY PROCESS. YOU WILL ALSO WANT TO STRESS THE URGENT NEED TO RESOLVE KEDO'S FUNDING CRISIS, AND CONSULT ON NORTH KOREA'S FOOD SHORTAGES. YOUR VISIT WILL ALSO BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EMPHASIZE U.S. SUPPORT AS KOREA TAKES STEPS TO REFORM ITS ECONOMY. THE KIM ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTED TO THE REFORM PROGRAM, BUT THE REAL PAIN IS YET TO BE FELT. YOUR VISIT WILL CONCLUDE WITH A MEETING WITH NGO REPRESENTATIVES WHERE YOU CAN CARRY OUT A DIALOGUE ON DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, AND THE LESSONS THAT KOREA'S DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS HOLDS FOR ASIA.

OFFICE MEETING/LUNCH WITH FOREIGN MINISTER PARK CHUNG-SOO SECRET

SECRET

PAGE 03 STATE 069911 180129Z

YOUR MEETING WITH PARK WILL ALLOW FOR A DETAILED DISCUSSION OF KEY ISSUES, INCLUDING THE KEDO FUNDING CRISIS, POLICY TOWARD NORTH KOREA, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF OUR RELATIONSHIP. THE NEW FOREIGN MINISTER HAS A LONG BACKGROUND IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, WHERE HE WAS REGARDED AS A SERIOUS, PRO- AMERICAN, FOREIGN AFFAIRS EXPERT. THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAL TO HIS ACADEMIC GROUNDING (AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PH.D.) TO BECOME A PARTNER IN PROBLEM SOLVING.

YOU WILL NEED TO PRESS PARK ON KEDO, NOTING THAT UNDER SECRETARY PICKERING PUT FORWARD A FAIR PROPOSAL TO RESOLVE FUNDING ISSUES FOR BOTH THE LIGHT-WATER REACTOR PROJECT AND HEAVY FUEL OIL DELIVERIES. YOU ALSO SHOULD ASK FOR A BRIEFING ON NORTH-SOUTH DIALOGUE, INCLUDING THE RECENT MEETINGS IN BEIJING, AND AGAIN STRESS STRONG U.S. SUPPORT FOR THESE EFFORTS. YOU SHOULD DISCUSS NEXT STEPS IN THE FOUR PARTY TALKS. PARK'S MINISTRY HAS RECENTLY BEEN GIVEN OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY ON TRADE ISSUES, AND YOU SHOULD SEEK HIS COOPERATION TO STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP BY

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-12152 Doc No. C05648224 Date: 11/25/2014

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UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-12152 Doc No. C05648224 Date: 11/25/2014

HELPING TO RESOLVE U.S.-ROK TRADE DISPUTES QUICKLY AND QUIETLY. YOU WILL ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE PARK TO ENSURE THAT KOREA MAKES A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO GLOBAL EFFORTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE. YOUR DISCUSSION WITH PARK WILL CONTINUE DURING A WORKING LUNCH. A PRESS EVENT WILL FOLLOW.

MEETING WITH NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR LIM DONG-WON

DURING YOUR BRIEF DROP-BY WITH LIM, WHICH WILL DIRECTLY PRECEDE YOUR MEETING WITH PRESIDENT KIM AT THE BLUE HOUSE, SECRET

SECRET

PAGE 04 STATE 069911 180129Z YOU SHOULD RAISE NORTH KOREA POLICY, WHICH LIM VIEWS AS HIS PARTICULAR RESPONSIBILITY. YOU CAN AGAIN STRESS THE URGENT NEED TO RESOLVE KEDO'S FUNDING PROBLEMS, NOTING RECENT DPRK THREATS ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREED FRAMEWORK AND THE SERIOUS SECURITY RISK THIS IMPLIES. YOU SHOULD ALSO UNDERLINE OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR NORTH-SOUTH DIALOGUE AND ASK LIM ABOUT PROSPECTS FOR THE TALKS. LIM WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE A REFERENCE BY YOU REGARDING OUR CAREFUL PLANNING TO MAKE KIM'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON A MAJOR SYMBOL OF OUR CLOSE BILATERAL TIES AND FRIENDSHIP.

MEETING WITH PRESIDENT KIM DAE-JUNG

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR A SUCCESSFUL STATE VISIT THIS JUNE BY PRESIDENT KIM THROUGH A REVIEW OF KEY ISSUES IN OUR BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP. WE HOPE THAT KIM'S VISIT WILL BE AN OCCASION TO CELEBRATE THE STRENGTH AND UNIVERSAL APPEAL OF DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND THE HEALTH OF U.S.-KOREA RELATIONS. YOU SHOULD PRAISE KIM FOR HIS IMPRESSIVE HANDLING OF THE ROK'S FINANCIAL CRISIS AND ENCOURAGE HIM TO CONTINUE THE PROCESS OF ECONOMIC REFORM. KIM ALSO HAS TAKEN BOLD STEPS TO TRY TO REESTABLISH DIRECT NORTH-SOUTH DIALOGUE, AND YOU SHOULD UNDERLINE OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR SUCH CONTACTS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE AGREED THAT THE FOUR PARTY PROCESS IS SUPPORTIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY.

YOU SHOULD STRESS OUR NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO OVERCOME KEDO'S FINANCIAL CRISIS, SINCE A BREAKDOWN OF THE AGREED FRAMEWORK COULD PRECIPITATE ANOTHER SECURITY CRISIS ON THE SECRET

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-12152 Doc No. C05648224 Date: 11/25/2014

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SECRET

PAGE 05 STATE 069911 180129Z PENINSULA. YOU ALSO SHOULD NOTE THAT WE WILL NEED TO BE PREPARED TO RESPOND QUICKLY IF THE FOOD SITUATION IN THE DPRK DETERIORATES SO AS TO AVOID A CHAOTIC AND DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE NORTH. KIM IS A STRATEGIC THINKER, AND YOU CAN ENGAGE HIM IN A DISCUSSION--WHICH COULD BE CONTINUED WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON--ABOUT WAYS THAT WE CAN COOPERATE WITHIN ASIA AND GLOBALLY TO PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND FREE TRADE. THERE WILL BE AN EXTENDED PHOTO OPPORTUNITY OR POOL FILMING BEFORE THE MEETING.

ROUNDTABLE MEETING WITH NGO REPRESENTATIVES

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM KEY SOUTH KOREAN NGOS FOR AN OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT THE KOREAN EXPERIENCE IN PROMOTING DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE LESSONS FROM THIS FOR ASIA. YOUR OPENING REMARKS SHOULD EMPHASIZ? KOREA'S REMARKABLE DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION--INCLUDING THE ELECTION OF KIM DAE JUNG AS PRESIDENT--AS EVIDENCE OF THE UNIVERSALITY OF DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND HUMAN RIGHTS. CONTRARY TO THE CLAIMS

OF SOME, DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ARE NOT "WESTERN" VALUES, NOR DO THEY CONSTRAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

YOU SHOULD HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT AN ACTIVE CITIZENRY--INCLUDING NGOS--PLAY IN THE ENHANCEMENT OF DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS. YOU SHOULD COMMEND KOREA FOR ITS GROWING AWARENESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS. KOREAN PARTICIPANTS WILL INCLUDE PEOPLE WORKING ON WOMEN'S ISSUES, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THESE INDIVIDUALS, SECRET

SECRET

PAGE 06 STATE 069911 180129Z WHILE FORWARD-LEANING, MAY STILL SURPRISE YOU WITH A UNIQUE KOREAN PERSPECTIVE ON THESE ISSUES. THEY ARE ALSO LIKELY TO SEEK YOUR VIEWS ON U.S.-ROK ISSUES, SUCH AS NORTH KOREA POLICY AND THE FALLOUT FROM THE FINANCIAL CRISIS. MEDIA COVERAGE WILL BE LIMITED TO A CAMERA SPRAY OF OPENING REMARKS.

  1. (S) CHINA ROAD MAP

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-12152 Doc No. C05648224 Date: 11/25/2014

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UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-12152 Doc No. C05648224 Date: 11/25/2014

IN CHINA, YOU WILL WANT TO PRESS OUR PRIME SUMMIT OBJECTIVES -- HUMAN RIGHTS, NONPROLIFERATION, AND TRADE -- AND BEGIN TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NEW FOREIGN MINISTER. YOUR VISIT WILL OCCUR ABOUT EIGHT WEEKS PRIOR TO THE PRESIDENT'S JUNE SUMMIT IN BEIJING.

NR

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-12152 Doc No. C05648224 Date: 11/25/2014

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NR

  1. (C) JAPAN ROAD MAP

NR

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SECRET PAGE 16 STATE 069911 180129Z

NR

  1. (C) MONGOLIA ROAD MAP DURING YOUR VISIT TO MONGOLIA, YOU WILL WANT TO REAFFIRM SECRET

SECRET PAGE 17 STATE 069911 180129Z U.S. SUPPORT FOR MONGOLIA'S DRAMATIC TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY AND A MARKET ECBNOMY AND ENCOURAGE THE NEW GOVERNMENT TO FOLLOW THE PATH OF ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REFORM LAID OUT BY ITS PREDECESSOR. [

NR

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case

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END ROADMAP TEXTS. PICKERING

SECRET

NNNN

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-12152 Doc No. C05648224 Date: 11/25/2014

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Keywords

declassifiedNational Security ArchiveEngaging North Korea II: Evidence from the Clinton Administration Dec 82017

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