Cablegate: Rok Supportive of Usg Candidate's Reelection to Ilc

VZCZCXYZ0014
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #2899 2360753
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 240753Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9879
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1120
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 7477
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1202
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0290

UNCLAS SEOUL 002899

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNGA UNSC KS
SUBJECT: ROK SUPPORTIVE OF USG CANDIDATE'S REELECTION TO ILC

REF: STATE 137429

1. (SBU) On August 24, poloff delivered reftel points and
diplomatic note supporting the reelection of Mr. Matheson to
the International Law Commission (ILC) to Dr. Kim Sun-pyo,
Director of the International Legal Affairs Division at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Kim said Seoul should
be expected to support Mr. Matheson's reelection to the ILC
because the United States is a leading member of the
international law community, a P-5 country, and a strong ally
of South Korea. It was too early for a final decision but
ultimately Seoul would back Washington's candidate as it had
before, he noted.

2. (SBU) Kim added that Seoul was not putting forward its
own candidate to the ILC because South Korea was focused on
Foreign Minister Ban's UNSYG campaign. He opined that it
might be too burdensome for the ROKG to worry about multiple
candidacies for other UN bodies.
STANTON

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