Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07SEOUL1608, ACCOUNTS OF THE INTER-KOREAN RAILWAYS TRAIL RUNS

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07SEOUL1608.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07SEOUL1608 2007-05-25 08:42 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Seoul
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #1608/01 1450842
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 250842Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4745
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2569
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2679
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 8070
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP//
UNCLAS SEOUL 001608 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KS KN
SUBJECT: ACCOUNTS OF THE INTER-KOREAN RAILWAYS TRAIL RUNS 
 
1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: With much fanfare on May 17, South and 
North Korea conducted test runs of two cross-border railways. 
 Before the trains departed in the morning, ROK Unification 
Minister Lee Jae-joung said that the test runs indicated that 
"the heart of the Korean Peninsula is beating again." 
Minister Lee's DPRK counterpart, Kwon Ho-ung, chief councilor 
of the DPRK cabinet, said that the DPRK will make sure that 
the "train of unification" runs along a "track" of 
inter-Korean cooperation.  Beyond these public comments, the 
train rides and lunches resulted in some spontaneous 
conversation and contact between officials from North and 
South Korea--rare since 1953.  On Embassy contact commented 
that whether the one-time railway tests might lead to a 
significant improvement really depended on how much more 
money the ROKG was willing to invest in the DPRK.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (U) Shortly before noon on May 17, a ROK train left 
Munsan Station to travel northbound through the Western 
Transportation Corridor, while a DPRK train left Mt. Kumgang 
Station to travel southbound through the Eastern 
Transportation Corridor; both trains returned to their points 
of origin later that day.  Each train consisted of five 
carriages carrying approximately 100 South Koreans and 50 
North Koreans.  Although this was a one-time arrangement, 
those who argue that the DPRK works by precedent posit that 
the tests have brought the two Koreas closer to more, if 
limited, train traffic.  On the morning of May 17, ROK 
Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung announced that the test 
runs were "reconnecting the severed bloodline of our (Korean) 
people . . . the heart of the Korean Peninsula is beating 
again."  Minister Lee's DPRK counterpart, Kwon Ho-ung, chief 
councilor of the DPRK cabinet, told reporters that the DPRK 
will make sure that the "train of unification" runs along a 
"track" of inter-Korean cooperation. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
REACTION AT JEJIN AND MUNSAN STATIONS IN ROK 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
3.  (U) The South Koreans gathered at Jejin Station to await 
the southbound DPRK train and at Munsan Station to send off 
the northbound ROK train included some South Koreans who were 
separated from their North Korean relatives following the 
Korean War.  One separated family member at Jejin Station 
told reporters that he hoped "the day will come when I will 
be able to travel by train to my home."  The crowds at Munsan 
Station also included some 30 people from the Abductees' 
Family Union who staged a demonstration demanding that the 
ROKG push for progress on verifying the fates and whereabouts 
of South Korean abductees and POWs detained in North Korea. 
The group's representative, Choi Sung-yong, explained that 
"the families of abductee victims are not against the test 
run itself, but would like to see some progress on the 
abductee issue." 
 
4.  (U) According to one Joongang Ilbo article, on the trip 
from Munsan to Kaesong, delegates from both Koreas started 
singing "Our Hope is Unification" when the train crossed into 
the northern side of the DMZ.  In contrast to the excited 
civilian response in South Korea, the article noted that 
North Korean residents at Kaesong were "quiet" and "calm." 
One North Korean passenger commented, "Everyone is busy 
because it is the planting season.  It's just a test run. 
Nothing to be excited about." 
 
-------------- 
EAST COAST RUN 
-------------- 
 
5.  (SBU) On May 23, Dr. Kim Il-joo, Chairman of the 
Association of Supporters for Defecting North Korean 
Residents and supporter of opposition GNP presidential 
candidate Lee Myung-bak, described his train ride from Mt. 
Kumgang Station to Jejin Station during the May 17 
cross-border train trials.  Kim told poloffs that the 100 
South Korean participants for the Donghae (East Coast) 
railway run traveled by bus the prior day to Sokcho, North 
Korea.  Early on May 17, they drove from Sokcho to the DPRK 
station.  During the trainride, ROK reporters were free to 
shoot video from inside the train, which was relatively 
surprising; some footage of which was televised after the 
event.  In an effort to build rapport, Kim said that he 
served fruit to his North Korea interlocutors while they 
engaged in conversation.  After their arrival at Jejin, the 
participants debarked and had lunch at the station.  During 
lunch, he subtly passed out Parker fountain pens to North 
Koreans sitting near him.  He even passed a one hundred U.S. 
dollar bill in a handshake under the table to the 
highest-ranking nearby North Korean.  Kim lamented that he 
should have prepared more pens and money because this 
demonstration of generosity would make a positive lasting 
impression. 
 
6.  (SBU) At one point during the meal, ROK compatriots at 
Kim's table began to discuss ROK politics.  While the South 
Koreans debated the merits and demerits of former Presidents, 
the DPRK interlocutors sat amazed at their ability to freely 
discuss and criticize former Presidents.  On another subject, 
Kim noted that former Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh could be 
considered a true patriot because he unified his country, but 
did not build a personality cult.  In other words, Ho put his 
people above himself.  The North Koreans, however, declined 
to respond to this line of conversation.  Nevertheless, Kim 
said that compared to his earlier visit to North Korea, the 
general atmosphere between Soth and North Korean 
participants was more relaxed.  The North Koreans did not 
make any anti-U.S. statements nor did they display aggressive 
behavior.  Asked if he thought the one-time railway tests 
might lead to a significant improvement in inter-Korean 
relations, Kim said that it would probably depend on how much 
more money the ROKG was willing to invest in the DPRK.  Kim 
offered that the North Koreans were much more open in asking 
for money and seemed to understand and admit the North Korean 
economy was in shambles. 
 
-------------- 
WEST COAST RUN 
-------------- 
 
7.  (U) Renowned Korean poet Ko Un, who was aboard the train 
to Kaesong, said that the test run was like "connecting our 
nation's blood vein.  I hope that this means that this is the 
real start of realizing our dream to connect not only the 
Korean Peninsula, but the Asian continent."  ROK National 
Security Adviser Baek Jong-chun stated that the event "is a 
visible result of the ROKG's Korean Peninsula peace policy." 
Ministry of National Defense North Korea Policy Division 
Director Moon Sung-mook said he hoped that, "this will 
contribute to relieving tension and building trust, and in 
turn establishing peace in this land."  National Assembly 
Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee Chairman and Uri lawmaker 
Kim Won-wung commented that, "we can no longer let others 
decide our destiny.  This event is symbolic in that it 
demonstrates the autonomous will and capacity of the two 
Koreas." 
 
8.  (U) Dong-A Ilbo reporter Ha Tae-won, who was also on the 
Kaesong-bound train, wrote that Kwon Ho-ung, chief councilor 
of the DPRK cabinet, was visibly warmer towards 
"pro-engagement" figures from South Korea.  In particular, 
Kwon praised former Hanyang University Professor Ri 
Young-hee, who in 1994 published a book, "A Bird Flies With 
Two Wings," that criticized perceived USG "hostile" policy 
toward the DPRK, saying he was moved by the book and urging 
Ri to keep writing.  Kwon also toasted ROK Red Cross 
President Han Wan-sang, expressing the DPRK's gratitude for 
unconditionally repatriating Ri In-mo, and "unconverted 
long-term prisoner," during Han's tenure as Unification 
Minister in 1993.  On the other hand, Kwon was cold to former 
Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok, apparently because Lee, 
in July 2006 during inter-Korean ministerial talks, declared 
that the ROK would suspend its rice and fertilizer assistance 
following the DPRK's July missile launches.  Lee Jong-seok 
reportedly also rode on the train alone because the DPRK 
passenger who was to sit across from him never showed up. 
 
9.  (SBU) On May 19, GNP lawmaker Chin Young told poloff 
about his experience on the train from Munsan (ROK) to 
Kaesong (DPRK) during the cross-border trial, saying that he 
was surprised at the depth of interest in and knowledge of 
the South Korean presidential race.  According to Chin, when 
asked who would win the December elections, Chin told his 
DPRK counterparts that Lee Myung-bak had a comfortable lead. 
The North Koreans then said, "How can you, a firm supporter 
of Park Geun-hye, say such a thing?"  The North Koreans said 
they admired Park Geun-hye and wished her well in the 
elections.  Chin said he suspected they admired her because 
she met North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in 2001 and she 
carried through all the promises she made to Kim during the 
visit. 
 
10.  (SBU) Chin said he was brought to the head table to meet 
Kwon Ho-ung, the head of the DPRK contingent, and Kwon asked 
that the GNP not be mentioned for fear, "people will lose 
their appetite if we hear the word GNP."  No one at the head 
table would speak to Chin so he had one drink with the group 
and returned to his table.  Shin Ho, a YTN reporter who was 
on the train, told poloff on May 18 that he noticed that all 
the buildings in Kaesong were recently painted and that North 
Koreans were out in numbers watching the train go by. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
11.  (SBU) The historic tests of the trains come three years 
after the restoration of the railways was completed in 2004. 
Last year the Koreas even agreed on May 25, 2006 as the date 
for the rail crossings, but the DPRK canceled at the last 
minute allegedly due to objections from its military 
authorities.  The western train carried ROK's Unification 
Minister, several former Unification Ministers, and 
representatives from the Unification, Foreign Affairs and 
Trade Committee, while the eastern train had many technicians 
as well as lawmakers from the Construction and Transportation 
Committee.  The apparent last-minute stoppage in the ROKG 
rice shipment and continued DPRK intransigence over BDA will 
make it more difficult for immediate progress on inter-Korean 
train development, but the fact that there was general public 
and media support for the tests could be a sign of South 
Korean public's higher threshold for inter-Korean development 
despite the lack of progress in the Six-Party Talks. 
VERSHBOW