Cable, State 121925 to Amembassy Seoul, June 26, 2000, Subject: Secretary's Meeting with ROK Foreign Minister Lee Joung Binn on June 23, 2000, in Seoul, Korea (Confidential)
National Security Archive
This cable, though also redacted, provides important aspects of a discussion Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and her colleagues held in Seoul with South Korean Foreign Minister Lee Joung Binn and other South Korean officials about the results of the June North/South summit and the current situ
Source: Cable, State 121925 to Amembassy Seoul, June 26, 2000, Subject: Secretary's Meeting with ROK Foreign Minister Lee Joung Binn on June 23, 2000, in Seoul, Korea (Confidential) Date: Jun 26, 2000 Collection: Engaging North Korea II: Evidence from the Clinton Administration Dec 8, 2017
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636013 Date: 07/10/2017
CONFIDENTIAL PTO8371
PAGE 01 STATE 121925 262337Z ORIGIN SS-00
INFO LOG-00 SAS-00 /000R APPEALS PANEL ACTION: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELEASED 1.4(B),B1,1.4(D)
121925 SOURCE: DISKETTE.011834 DRAFTED BY: POL:TGIBBONS:TG -- 06/26/00 71512 APPROVED BY: S/S:SDMULL S:AWOLFF EAP:SROTH S/S-O:SFDREW ----------------673A81 262340Z /38 Classification Extended on : 02/22/2017 ~ Class: CONFIDENTIAL ~ Authority: DSCG 11-1 ~ Declassify on: 06/25/2025 O 262334Z JUN 00 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL STATE 121925 EXDIS DECAPTIONED
E.O. 12958: DECL: (AFTER KOREAN REUNIFICATION) TAGS: OVIP (ALBRIGHT, MADELINE K), PREL, KS, KN SUBJECT: SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH ROK FOREIGN MINISTER LEE JOUNG-BINN ON JUNE 23, 2000, IN SEOUL, KOREA
CLASSIFIED BY DEPUTY EXECUTIVE SECRETARY STEVE MULL. REASONS: 1.5 (B), (D).
(U) JUNE 23, 2000, 16:00, ROK FOREIGN MINISTRY, SEOUL.
(U) PARTICIPANTS:
U.S.:
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 STATE 121925 262337Z THE SECRETARY STEPHEN BOSWORTH, AMBASSADOR ELAINE SHOCAS, CHIEF OF STAFF WENDY SHERMAN, COUNSELOR OF THE DEPARTMENT STANLEY ROTH, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS HAROLD KOH, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOR RICHARD A. BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN OF THE DEPARTMENT DONALD KERRICK, LTG, ASSISTANT TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF LEE FEINSTEIN, PRINCIPAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR, S/P TOM GIBBONS, POLITICAL OFFICER (NOTETAKER)
REPUBLIC OF KOREA: LEE JOUNG-BINN, FOREIGN MINISTER JANG JAI-RYONG, DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER SONG MIN-SOON, DIRECTOR GENERAL, NORTH AMERICAN AFFAIRS
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636013 Date: 07/10/2017
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636013 Date: 07/10/2017
CHOI JONG-IL, ASSISTANT TO MINISTER KANG KYOUNG-HWA, ASSISTANT TO MINISTER KIM KYOU-HYUN, DIRECTOR, NORTH AMERICA DIVISION I YOON YEO-CHEOL, NORTH AMERICA DIVISION I (NOTETAKER)
- (C) SUMMARY: LEE TOLD SECRETARY ALBRIGHT THAT [Redaction Box] THE SECRETARY VOICED WARM PRAISE FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE SUMMIT, AND URGED CONTINUED CLOSE COOPERATION ON NORTH KOREA POLICY. ON OTHER BILATERAL AND GLOBAL ISSUES, FM LEE CALLED FOR A CONCERTED EFFORT TO RESOLVE "WORRISOME" FRICTION OVER THE STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT. THE SECRETARY ADVOCATED A [Redaction Box] SOUGHT ROKG SUPPORT FOR THE U.S. STANCE ON THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT, AND URGED SOUTH KOREA TO GIVE UP ITS 80 PERCENT DISCOUNT ON PEACEKEEPING ASSESSMENTS. END SUMMARY.
1.4(B) 1.4(D) B1
1.4(B) 1.4(D) B1
DPRK: KIM JONG IL IN CHARGE, ACTING PURPOSEFULLY
- (C) FOREIGN MINISTER LEE EXPRESSED A "FIRM CONVICTION" THAT THE ROK-U.S. ALLIANCE HAD BEEN AND WOULD CONTINUE TO BE THE BASIC PILLAR OF SOUTH KOREA'S SECURITY POLICY. THE FOREIGN MINISTER UNDERSTOOD THAT THE SECRETARY HAD BEEN WELL BRIEFED ON THE OUTCOME OF THE NORTH-SOUTH SUMMIT IN PYONGYANG DURING THE VISIT TO WASHINGTON OF ROK NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HWANG WON-TAK.
1.4(B) 1.4(D) B1
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PAGE 04 STATE 121925 262337Z [Redaction Box]
1.4(B) 1.4(D) B1
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UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636013 Date: 07/10/2017 3) 1.4(D) B1
Page Denied
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UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636013 Date: 07/10/2017
1.4(B) 1.4(D) B1
ENCOURAGING SIGNS OF RAPPROCHEMENT
- (C) THE ROKG JUDGED THAT THE SUMMIT PRODUCED SOME TANGIBLE RESULTS SO FAR, ACCORDING TO FM LEE. FIRST, NORTH KOREA HAD STOPPED BROADCASTING PROPAGANDA ALONG THE DMZ AND ITS MEDIA HAD STOPPED DENOUNCING THE ROK. SECOND, IN A DISPLAY OF "UNPRECEDENTED COOPERATION," THE DPRK HAD RETURNED, AFTER ONLY BRIEF INTERROGATION, SEVERAL ROK FISHING VESSELS THAT HAD CROSSED THE NORTHERN LIMIT LINE, THE DISPUTED MARITIME BOUNDARY IN THE YELLOW SEA. THIRD, THIS YEAR THE DPRK HAD PROHIBITED ITS FISHING VESSELS FROM CRABBING IN THE SOUTHERN WATERS OF THE YELLOW SEA, TO PREVENT A REPETITION OF A SITUATION WHICH HAD TOUCHED OFF A NAVAL ENGAGEMENT LAST SUMMER. FINALLY, NORTH KOREA HAD DISPLAYED A POSITIVE ATTITUDE ON THE QUESTION OF VISITS FOR SEPARATED FAMILY MEMBERS. THE ROKG ANTICIPATED THAT SOME 100 SEPARATED FAMILY MEMBERS WOULD MEET AROUND AUGUST CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 07 STATE 121925 262337Z 15. RED CROSS TALKS ON THIS SUBJECT WOULD TAKE PLACE JUNE 27-30.
ROK SUPPORTS U.S.-DPRK CONTACT AT ARF
- (C) FOREIGN MINISTER LEE STATED THAT THE ROKG "FULLY SUPPORTS" THE IDEA OF A MEETING AT THE UPCOMING ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM (ARF) BETWEEN THE SECRETARY AND DPRK FOREIGN MINISTER PAEK NAM-SOON, AS THIS WAS A GOOD WAY TO HAVE A HIGH-LEVEL DISCUSSION OF MATTERS OF MUTUAL CONCERN. THE ROKG ALSO WAS INTERESTED IN A POSSIBLE SIX-PARTY DISCUSSION INVOLVING NORTH KOREA AT THE ARF
1.4(B) 1.4(D) B1
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636013 Date: 07/10/2017
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636013 Date: 07/10/2017
MINISTER SAID.
N-S SUMMIT "SPECTACULAR" ACCOMPLISHMENT
(6) RESPONDING TO FM LEE'S EXTENSIVE PRESENTATION, THE SECRETARY LAUDED THE ROK LEADERSHIP'S OUTSTANDING SUCCESS AT THE PYONGYANG SUMMIT, WHICH DESERVED "THE GREATEST CONGRATULATIONS." THIS WAS TRULY ONE OF THE REMARKABLE EVENTS OF OUR ERA, A SPECTACULAR ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVING TO RESOLVE THIS LONG-STANDING SITUATION.
(C) THE SECRETARY CONVEYED TO FM LEE THE USG'S WARM CONGRATULATIONS ON THE OPENING SUCCESS OF THE ROKG'S CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 08 STATE 121925 262337Z INITIATIVES TOWARD THE NORTH, WHICH CONSTITUTED THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP POSSIBLE IN MOVING FORWARD WITH NORTH KOREA AND WAS FULLY IN LINE WITH THE GOALS OF THE PERRY PROCESS. THE SECRETARY OUTLINED FOUR AREAS WHERE IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON IMPLEMENTATION AND FUTURE PROGRESS. FIRST, IT WOULD HELP TO KNOW AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION OF NORTH-SOUTH COOPERATION ON SUCH ISSUES AS ECONOMIC COOPERATION, AS WELL AS SEPARATED FAMILY MEMBERS. SECOND, IT WOULD HELP TO KNOW MORE ABOUT NORTH KOREAN ATTITUDES TOWARD THE U.S. AND ITS SECURITY PRESENCE HERE, WHICH WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE PENINSULA AND THE REGION. THIRD, THE USG APPRECIATED THE ROKG'S EFFORTS TO RAISE NUCLEAR AND MISSILE ISSUES WITH THE NORTH. FOURTH, IT WAS VERY POSITIVE TO LEARN THAT DPRK PROPAGANDA AGAINST THE SOUTH HAD ENDED, BUT THE QUESTION REMAINED WHY THE U.S. WAS STILL TARGETED BY THE NORTH.
1.4(B) 1.4(D) B1
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636013 Date: 07/10/2017
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636013 Date: 07/10/2017
1.4(B) 1.4(D) B1
- (C) TURNING THE TO UPCOMING ARF, THE SECRETARY SAID THAT SHE WAS PREPARED TO MEET WITH THE DPRK FOREIGN MINISTER AT THE ARF
1.4(B) 1.4(D) B1
ALSO CONSIDERING THE IDEA THAT NORTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES MIGHT BE ABLE TO DISCUSS TERRORISM, THE ENVIRONMENT AND CRIME AT THE ARF.
1.4(B) 1.4(D) B1
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1.4(B) 1.4(D) B1
DPRK POLICY COORDINATION VITAL
- (C) THE SECRETARY VOICED THE HOPE THAT THE OUTSTANDING COORDINATION WHICH HAD MARKED OUR JOINT NORTH KOREA POLICY SO FAR WOULD CONTINUE, WITH THE NEXT TRILATERAL COORDINATION AND OVERSIGHT GROUP (TCOG) MEETING SET TO TAKE PLACE IN HONOLULU NEXT WEEK. IT WAS ALSO IMPORTANT TO COORDINATE POLICY WITH THE EU AND ASEAN. THE SECRETARY SAID.
1.4(D) B1
RISING CONCERN OVER SOFA
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636013 Date: 07/10/2017
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636013 Date: 07/10/2017
- (C) ON OTHER ISSUES OF BILATERAL CONCERN, FM LEE SAID
THAT THE MAJORITY OF ROK CITIZENS HOPE FOR THE LONG-TERM
DEVELOPMENT OF CLOSE TIES WITH THE U.S. AND FOR A STABLE
ENVIRONMENT FOR THE STATIONING OF U.S. FORCES IN KOREA.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 11 STATE 121925 262337Z BOTH OF OUR GOVERNMENTS WILL HAVE TO EXERT ALL THEIR EFFORTS TO RESOLVE TENSIONS OVER THE STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT (SOFA), WHICH WERE APPROACHING "WORRISOME" LEVELS IN SOUTH KOREA, DESPITE MOFAT EFFORTS TO COMMUNICATE TO ROK CITIZENS THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUED CLOSE RELATIONS WITH THE U.S. IT WOULD TAKE A STRONG EXERTION OF LEADERSHIP ON BOTH SIDES TO REALIZE THE SOFA REVISION, GIVEN THE INCREASE OF ANTI-AMERICAN FEELING AMONG SOME GROUPS.
- (C) THE SECRETARY RESPONDED THAT AMBASSADOR BOSWORTH HAD PRESENTED THE USG SOFA PROPOSAL AT THE END OF MAY AND THAT WE WERE PREPARED TO DISCUSS ONLY THE ISSUE OF CRIMINAL CUSTODY. THE USG WAS READY TO SEND A STATE/DOD TEAM TO SEOUL AS SOON AS THE ROKG RESPONDED TO OUR PROPOSAL AND REQUESTED A DATE FOR TALKS.
1.4(D) B1
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PAGE 12 STATE 121925 262337Z INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
- (C) THE SECRETARY STRONGLY URGED THAT THE ROKG SUPPORT ONGOING USG EFFORTS IN NEW YORK TO ALLOW THE U.S. TO ABIDE BY THE ROME TREATY ON THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT. WHILE THE U.S. COULD NOT SIGN THE TREATY AND DID NOT WANT TO REOPEN NEGOTIATIONS ON IT, IT HAD PROPOSED SOME IDEAS WHICH WOULD HELP RESOLVE THE SITUATION. IT WOULD BE VERY VALUABLE IF THE ROK DELEGATION IN NEW YORK COULD LEND ITS STRONG SUPPORT FOR U.S. EFFORTS, GIVEN THAT THE ROK WAS HOST TO SUCH A SIGNIFICANT FORCE OF U.S. TROOPS. FM LEE NOTED THAT THE ROKG HAD SIGNED THE ROME TREATY AND SAID THAT MOFAT WOULD KEEP THE U.S. REQUEST IN MIND.
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636013 Date: 07/10/2017
UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636013 Date: 07/10/2017
UN PEACEKEEPING ASSESSMENTS
- (C) THE SECRETARY ALSO MADE A STRONG CASE FOR THE ROKG TO FOREGO ITS CURRENT 80 PERCENT DISCOUNT ON UN PEACEKEEPING ASSESSMENTS. MANY OTHER COUNTRIES HAD RENOUNCED THEIR DISCOUNTS, AND IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE ROK ALSO TO DO SO GIVEN ITS GLOBAL ECONOMIC STATUS. FM LEE SAID THAT MOFAT WAS "DOING ITS BEST" TO INCREASE THE ROK'S PKO CONTRIBUTION, BUT THAT DIFFICULTIES REMAINED WITH THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. STILL, HE SAID THAT HE WOULD KEEP IN TOUCH ON THIS MATTER. PICKERING
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UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-13304 Doc No. C05636013 Date: 07/10/2017
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