Cable, Amembassy Seoul 3150 to SecState, June 15, 2000, Subject: Initial Thoughts on North-South Summit Outcome (Confidential)

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636004 Date: 07/10/2017

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ3287

PAGE 01 SEOUL 03150 01 OF 02 150738Z ACTION SSO-00

INFO LOG-00 ANHR-00 EAP-00 TEDE-00 SS-00 SAS-00 /000W ----------630F07 150738Z /38 O 150724Z JUN 00 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9111 INFO ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY BERLIN IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY ROME IMMEDIATE AIT TAIPEI IMMEDIATE 7199 SECDEF WASHDC//OSD/ISA/EA// IMMEDIATE NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5// IMMEDIATE COMUSKOREA SEOUL KOR//J-5// IMMEDIATE USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//J-5/PA// IMMEDIATE

APPEALS PANEL ACTION: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELEASED 1.4(B),B1,1.4(D)

Classification Extended on : 02/15/2017 ~ Class: CONFIDENTIAL ~ Authority: DSCG 11-1 ~ Declassify on: 06-14-2025

CONFIDENTIAL SECTION 01 OF 02 SEOUL 003150

DEPT FOR U/S PICKERING, C - AMB. SHERMAN, NP - A/S EINHORN, EAP - A/S ROTH, PDAS DEMING, AMB. KARTMAN, AND EAP/K

DEPT PLS PASS NSC FOR LIEBERTHAL

FROM AMBASSADOR BOSWORTH

E.O. 12958: DECL: (AFTER KOREAN REUNIFICATION) CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 SEOUL 03150 01 OF 02 150738Z TAGS: PREL, MARR, MNUC, PINR, KS, KN SUBJECT: INITIAL THOUGHTS ON NORTH-SOUTH SUMMIT OUTCOME

CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR STEPHEN W. BOSWORTH. REASONS: 1.5 (B), (D).

1. (C) THE NORTH-SOUTH KOREAN SUMMIT WAS A MAJOR SUCCESS IN ESTABLISHING AN UNPRECEDENTED DIRECT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TOP LEADERS OF THE TWO COUNTRIES AND IN PERSONALLY COMMITTING BOTH OF THEM TO SEEK INTRA-KOREAN RECONCILIATION. THIS AND A MORE ENCOURAGING REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT ARE THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NORTH- SOUTH DIALOGUE OF 1991-92; WHICH RESULTED IN MAJOR AGREEMENTS BUT ULTIMATELY COULD NOT BE SUSTAINED.

2. (C) EVEN WITH THE DIRECT, PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE TWO TOP OFFICIALS AND INTERNATIONAL ENCOURAGEMENT, THE ROAD TO NORTH-SOUTH RECONCILIATION WILL BE LONG AND DIFFICULT. INEVITABLY, POINTS WILL BE REACHED AT WHICH PROGRESS STALLS. HOWEVER, FURTHER DRAMATIC EVENTS AND SUBSTANTIVE

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636004 Date: 07/10/2017

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636004 Date: 07/10/2017

PROGRESS APPEAR LIKELY IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS. THERE IS AMPLE ROOM FOR THE GOVERNMENTS TO IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT IMPORTANT AREAS OF AGREEMENT, AND KIM JONG IL HAS NOW JOINED KIM DAE-JUNG IN DEMONSTRATING HIS COMMITMENT TO DO SO.

3. (C) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LEADERS' INITIAL AGREEMENT WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT INDICATOR OF HOW FORTHCOMING NORTH KOREA WILL BE IN THE WAKE OF THE SUMMIT. THE TWO LEADERS HAVE AGREED TO HAVE THEIR OFFICIALS MEET VERY SOON TO TRANSLATE THEIR GENERAL AGREEMENT INTO PRACTICAL MEASURES. CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 SEOUL 03150 01 OF 02 150738Z ON FAMILY REUNIONS, THE NORTH HAS AGREED SO FAR ONLY TO MEETINGS OF SOME DIVIDED FAMILIES ON AUGUST 15, FAR SHORT OF SOUTH KOREANS' HOPES FOR UNIVERSAL AND SUSTAINED CONTACT BETWEEN DIVIDED FAMILIES, AT LEAST BY CORRESPONDENCE. THE NORTH KOREANS, FOR THEIR PART, WILL BE WATCHING CLOSELY THE PACE OF SOUTH KOREAN ECONOMIC AND INFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTANCE. BUT HERE, TOO, THE NORTH MUST PLAY ITS PART, FOR EXAMPLE, BY REASSURING SOUTH KOREAN INVESTORS THAT THEIR INVESTMENTS WILL NOT BE CONFISCATED, THAT PROFITS CAN BE REPATRIATED, AND THAT THERE WILL BE NO DOUBLE TAXATION.

4. (C) THE PERSONAL TRIUMPHS SCORED BY BOTH KIM DAE-JUNG AND KIM JONG IL AT THE SUMMIT WILL REINFORCE THEIR PERSONAL INCLINATION TO PURSUE ENGAGEMENT, AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO ENSURE THAT LOWER-LEVEL OFFICIALS IN THEIR GOVERNMENTS WORK IN A PROBLEM-SOLVING MODE. KIM DAE-JUNG'S PERFORMANCE WAS VIRTUALLY FLAWLESS. HE MADE ELOQUENT APPEALS TO THE NORTH KOREANS BUT WITHOUT CONCEDING SOUTH KOREAN POSITIONS. THE SOUTH KOREAN OPPOSITION WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR KDJ'S ENGAGEMENT POLICY, BUT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TRY TO SLOW IT DOWN MUCH AS LONG AS NORTH KOREA CONTINUES TO BE REASONABLY FORTHCOMING.

5. (C) MEANWHILE, KIM JONG IL, AS HE JOKINGLY SAID ON CAMERA, HAS BEEN "LIBERATED" FROM HIS IMAGE AS A "RECLUSE." HIS RELAXED, COURTEOUS, AND HUMOROUS MANNER WAS IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE USUAL CARICATURE OF HIM. THE VERY FAVORABLE SOUTH KOREAN AND WORLD REACTION TO HIS APPEARANCE -- HE WILL NOT HAVE MISSED IT BECAUSE HE PUBLICLY MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE WATCHES SOUTH KOREAN TELEVISION -- WILL LIKELY ENCOURAGE HIM TO PURSUE FURTHER SUCH CONTACT WITH KDJ AND CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 SEOUL 03150 01 OF 02 150738Z OTHER WORLD LEADERS. INDEED, HE HAS ALREADY AGREED WITH KDJ THAT HE WILL VISIT "SEOUL" AT AN "APPROPRIATE TIME."

6. (C) THE SOUTH KOREAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DEEPLY MOVED BY THIS UNPRECEDENTED MEETING, AND THEY NOW FEEL THEY HAVE REASON TO AT LEAST HOPE FOR SUSTAINED PROGRESS TOWARD RECONCILIATION AND, EVENTUALLY, UNIFICATION. MOST SOUTH KOREANS, HOWEVER, ARE QUITE REALISTIC, AND KNOW THAT THIS

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636004 Date: 07/10/2017

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636004 Date: 07/10/2017

IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF A LONG PROCESS. WHILE THERE HAS BEEN MUCH USE OF THE WORD "UNIFICATION" IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUMMIT, THAT IS NEITHER KIM DAE-JUNG'S IMMEDIATE GOAL NOR THAT OF THE GREAT MAJORITY OF SOUTH KOREANS. THUS, THE TWO LEADERS' AGREEMENT TO EXPLORE AREAS OF COMMONALITY IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CONFEDERATION PROPOSALS HAS ATTRACTED RELATIVELY LITTLE MEDIA ATTENTION HERE.

7. (C) THE FIRST OF THE FIVE AREAS AGREED BY THE TWO LEADERS IS FOR AN "AUTONOMOUS" (OFTEN MISLEADINGLY

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ3288

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INFO LOG-00 ANHR-00 EAP-00 TEDE-00 SS-00 SAS-00 /000W ------------------630F13 150739Z /38

O 150724Z JUN 00 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9112 INFO ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY BERLIN IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY ROME IMMEDIATE AIT TAIPEI IMMEDIATE 7200 SECDEF WASHDC//OSD/ISA/EA// IMMEDIATE NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5// IMMEDIATE COMUSKOREA SEOUL KOR//J-5// IMMEDIATE USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//J-5/PA// IMMEDIATE

CONFIDENTIAL SECTION 02 OF 02 SEOUL 003150

DEPT FOR U/S PICKERING, C - AMB. SHERMAN, NP - A/S EINHORN, EAP - A/S ROTH, PDAS DEMING, AMB. KARTMAN, AND EAP/K

DEPT PLS PASS NSC FOR LIEBERTHAL

FROM AMBASSADOR BOSWORTH

E.O. 12958: DECL: (AFTER KOREAN REUNIFICATION) CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 SEOUL 03150 02 OF 02 150738Z TAGS: PREL, MARR, MNUC, PINR, KS, KN SUBJECT: INITIAL THOUGHTS ON NORTH-SOUTH SUMMIT OUTCOME

TRANSLATED IN THIS CONTEXT AS "INDEPENDENT") RESOLUTION OF THE PENINSULAR ISSUES. THIS IS A MILDER VARIANT OF THE LANGUAGE USED IN THE "JULY 4 (1972) DECLARATION" BY THEN- PRESIDENT PARK CHUNG HEE AND KIM IL SUNG, WHICH STATED THAT "UNIFICATION SHALL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH AUTONOMOUS EFFORTS

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636004 Date: 07/10/2017

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636004 Date: 07/10/2017

WITHOUT ... EXTERNAL ... INTERFERENCE." THE JULY 4 DECLARATION WAS EXPLICITLY CITED IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN APRIL OF AGREEMENT FOR A NORTH-SOUTH SUMMIT.

1.4(B) 1.4(D) B1

THE LANGUAGE DOES HAVE A CERTAIN RESONANCE WITH SOUTH KOREANS AS WELL AS A REFLECTION OF SOUTH KOREANS' NATURAL DESIRE TO BE THE LEADING PLAYER IN DETERMINING "KOREA'S DESTINY."

1.4(D) B1

8. (C) KIM DAE-JUNG PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY ATTRIBUTES THE SUCCESS TO DATE OF HIS ENGAGEMENT POLICY IN CONSIDERABLE MEASURE TO U.S. SUPPORT, AND THE GENERAL SOUTH KOREAN PERCEPTION IS THAT THE USG IS COOPERATING CLOSELY AND WELL WITH THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT ON NORTH KOREA. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE USG POSITION CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF COMPLETE SUPPORT, PUBLICLY, PRIVATELY, AND IN PRACTICE FOR THE SUCCESS OF KDJ'S ENGAGEMENT POLICY. THIS IS BOTH FOR CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 SEOUL 03150 02 OF 02 150738Z THE SAKE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH SOUTH KOREA AND FOR THE SUCCESS OF KDJ'S POLICY, WHICH OFFERS THE BEST HOPE THAT ISSUES OF PRIORITY CONCERN TO US WILL ALSO EVENTUALLY BE SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVED. THUS, OUR PLANNED ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SANCTIONS-EASING STEPS AGAINST NORTH KOREA HAS BEEN VERY FAVORABLY REPORTED HERE AS AN INDICATION OF ACTIVE U.S. EFFORTS TO SUPPORT SOUTH KOREA'S POLICY. WE CAN EXPECT THAT OUR ANNOUNCEMENT JUNE 15 OF ANOTHER 50,000 TONS OF FOOD AID TO THE DPRK WILL BE SIMILARLY VIEWED BY SOUTH KOREANS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE ARE MANY IN THE SOUTH KOREAN PRESS CORPS WHO ARE HYPERSENSITIVE ABOUT ANY "INDICATIONS" OF U.S. "ENVY" OR DISSATISFACTION WITH THE SOUTH KOREAN APPROACH. WE WILL THEREFORE NEED TO CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE IN ALL OUR STATEMENTS THAT WE REGARD THE TWO KOREAS AS THE CENTRAL PLAYERS ON THE PENINSULA AND THAT WE ARE MOST HOPEFUL FOR THE SUCCESS OF THEIR DIALOGUE.

BOSWORTH

CONFIDENTIAL

<< END OF DOCUMENT >>

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636004 Date: 07/10/2017

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