US embassy cable - 92SEOUL12111

UNCLAS SEOUL 12111 
 
 
S/CT FOR REAP 
 
E.O. 12356:  N/A 
TAGS: PTER, KS 
SUBJECT:  SOUTH KOREA: 1992 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT 
 
REF:  A) STATE 338430, B) SEOUL 004491 
 
1.  SUMMARY.  THE ROKG VIEWS ITSELF AS A POTENTIAL TARGET 
FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND SHARES A STRONG POLICY 
AGAINST INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM WITH THE UNITED STATES. 
THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM IN 
1992, AND NO ROKG PROSECUTIONS OR EXTRADITIONS INVOLVING 
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.  THE POLICE IN KOREA CONSIDER 
RECURRING INCIDENTS OF STUDENT VIOLENCE TO BE CRIMINAL 
ACTS AND NOT TERRORIST EVENTS.  THERE HAS BEEN NO 
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN ROKG ATTITUDES TOWARD INTERNATIONAL 
OR DOMESTIC TERRORISM SINCE 1991, BUT THE ROKG HAS FAILED 
TO REDUCE THE LIBYAN DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE IN KOREA, AS 
STIPULATED IN UNSC RESOLUTION 748.  END SUMMARY. 
 
ROK AS A TARGET OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM 
------------------------------------------ 
2.  THE ROKG SHARES USG CONCERNS ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL 
TERRORIST THREAT, AND OUR POLICIES ON TERRORISM AND 
TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS ARE GENERALLY IN AGREEMENT.  AS 
RECENTLY AS 1987, THE ROK WAS THE VICTIM OF INTERNATIONAL 
TERRORISM SPONSORED BY NORTH KOREA WHICH RESULTED IN THE 
DEATHS OF 115 PASSENGERS ABOARD KAL FLIGHT 858.  THE 
SELF-CONFESSED SABOTEUR OF KAL FLIGHT 858 WAS TRIED AND 
SENTENCED TO DEATH, BUT RECEIVED A PRESIDENTIAL PARDON IN 
1990 AFTER COOPERATING FULLY WITH THE ROK AND IMPLICATING 
NORTH KOREA IN THE BOMBING. 
 
3.  THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM 
IN 1992, AND NO ROKG PROSECUTIONS OR EXTRADITIONS 
INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.  THERE HAS BEEN NO 
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN ROKG ATTITUDES TOWARD INTERNATIONAL 
OR DOMESTIC TERRORISM SINCE 1991. 
 
4.  THE POLICE IN KOREA CONSIDER RECURRING INCIDENTS OF 
STUDENT VIOLENCE TO BE CRIMINAL ACTS AND NOT TERRORIST 
EVENTS.  THE ROKG REACTS VIGOROUSLY TO OCCASIONAL ACTS OF 
VIOLENCE DIRECTED AT USG FACILITIES IN KOREA WHICH PROVIDE 
CONVENIENT TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENT PROTESTERS. 
THE INFLUENCE OF THE RADICAL STUDENT MOVEMENT IN KOREA IS 
DIMINISHING WITH PROGRESS TOWARD DEMOCRATIZATION.  YET 
STUDENTS CONTINUED TO STAGE VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS DURING 
1992, USING FIREBOMBS, FOR EXAMPLE, AGAINST THE USIS 
LIBRARY IN DOWNTOWN SEOUL ON APRIL 19 AND AGAINST RIOT 
POLICE IN DEMONSTRATIONS IN SEOUL, INCHON, AND KWANGJU ON 
AUGUST 11. 
 
5.  ROKG SECURITY AGENCIES CONTINUE TO BE ALERT TO 
POSSIBLE TERRORIST THREATS TO U.S. EMBASSY PERSONNEL AND 
INSTALLATIONS.  THE USG AND ROKG ROUTINELY SHARE 
INFORMATION ON POTENTIAL TERRORIST THREATS. 
 
A STRONG POLICY AGAINST INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
6.  THE ROKG HAS A STRONG POLICY AGAINST INTERNATIONAL 
TERRORISM BORNE OF ITS CONCERN OVER NORTH KOREAN TERRORIST 
ATTACKS.  ON MAY 22, 1992 THREE ARMED NORTH KOREAN 
INFILTRATORS WERE INTERCEPTED AND KILLED BY SOUTH KOREAN 
SOLDIERS APPROXIMATELY ONE KILOMETER SOUTH OF THE MDL. 
 
7.  NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA SIMULTANEOUSLY JOINED THE UNITED 
NATIONS AS FULL MEMBERS IN OCTOBER 1991.  THE ROKG, WHILE 
DECLARING SUPPORT FOR UN SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA, HAS 
TAKEN NO STEPS TO REDUCE THE LIBYAN DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE IN 
THE ROK, AS STIPULATED IN UNSC RESOLUTION 748.  MOFA 
OFFICIALS HAVE SEVERAL TIMES SAID (SEE REF B) THAT THE 
ROKG WAS "SERIOUSLY EXAMINING" HOW TO COMPLY WITH THIS 
PART OF UNSCR 748 BUT THAT NO DECISIONS HAD BEEN MADE. 
 
8.  THE ROKG HAS NOT AND DOES NOT SUPPORT STATE TERRORISM 
AND DOES NOT PROVIDE DIPLOMATIC, POLITICAL, FINANCIAL OR 
OTHER SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.  THE ROKG HAS 
NOT MADE ANY PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF A 
TERRORIST-SUPPORTED COUNTRY ON A TERRORISM ISSUE. 
 
GREGG