Cablegate: Korean Arf Disaster Relief Exercise

VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #2304 3370819
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 020819Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2487
INFO RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 9082
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS SEOUL 002304

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/RSP -- KEVIN SHEIVES, PACOM FOR J71 -- STEVE
MELLINGER, USAID FOR OFDA -- JEFF HENSEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID MARR MOPS ASEAN ARF RP
SUBJECT: KOREAN ARF DISASTER RELIEF EXERCISE

REF: STATE 122937

1. (SBU) Per reftel instructions, Econoff discussed ROKG
participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum Disaster Relief
Voluntary Demonstration of Response (VDR) with Mr. Lee,
Young-joon of the South Asian and Oceanian Regional
Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade (MOFAT). Lee said that MOFAT is currently discussing
ROKG participation with the Ministry of National Defense
(MND) and is reasonably certain that the ROKG will
participate. Lee noted that MOFAT, MND, and the Korea
International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will represent the
ROKG at the upcoming Inter-Sessional Meeting (ISM) on
Disaster Relief in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

2. (SBU) Econoff also discussed the VDR with Mr. Arnel G.
Talisayon, who is the point of contact for the VDR at the
Philippine Embassy in Seoul. Talisayon said that the
Philippine Embassy had invited Korea to participate in the
VDR, but that he had not yet followed up his faxed
invitation. He said he would coordinate more closely with
the ROKG in the near future.

3. (U) Embassy Seoul POCs regarding the VDR are Econoff
Dewey Moore (moorede@state.gove, phone: 822 397 4364) and
ESToff James Waller (wallerjm@state.gov, phone: 822 397
4159).
STEPHENS

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