INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Korea Country Clearance Granted for Eap/K Sung Kim and Paul

Published: Mon 23 Jun 2008 11:06 PM
VZCZCXYZ0007
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHUL #1245 1752306
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 232306Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0538
UNCLAS SEOUL 001245
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA AMGT KNNP PREL MNUC KN CH JA
SUBJECT: KOREA COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR EAP/K SUNG KIM AND PAUL
HAENLE
REF: SECSTATE 67442
1. (U) Embassy Seoul welcomes and grants country clearance for the
official June 24-30, 2008 visit of Sung Kim, Director of the Office
of Korean Affairs and Paul Haenle, NSC Director of Chinese Affairs.
The purpose of the visit is to travel to Seoul en route to Pyongyang
for consultations related to the Six-Party Talks.
CONTACT INFORMATION
--------------------
2. (U) Control officer for the visit is Political Officer
Jason Evans.
Office telephone: (82)(2) 397-4372
Embassy operator (82)(2) 397-4114 then press "0"
Cell phone: (82)(010) 4796-9847
Fax number: (82)(2) 733-4791
Unclassified email: EvansJD@state.gov
Classified email: EvansJD@state.sgov.gov
LODGING
-------
3. (U) Embassy has reserved two rooms at the Lotte Hotel for June
24-25 and June 28-29, 2008 at per diem rates. The reservation
confirmation number is 10126188 for all guests/for all nights.
Hotel is located at 1 Sogong-dong Jung-gu, Seoul Korea 100-070,
Seoul; hotel phone number is 82-2-771-1000; fax number:
82-2-752-3758. Cancellation policy is 24 hours prior to arrival to
avoid one-night penalty.
TRANSPORTATION
--------------
4. (U) All official travelers must possess a Korean visa to enter
the country. Travelers may contact the nearest Korean
Consulate/Embassy to obtain a visa. The delegation will not be met
at the airport.
THREAT ASSESSMENT
-----------------
5. (U) Americans in Seoul are subject to worldwide threat from
international terrorists, although we have no information to suggest
any specific terrorists threats directed at Americans here.
Political demonstrations occur frequently in Seoul, and are
occasionally anti-American. Americans can minimize personal risk by
staying away from demonstrations and by avoiding confrontation or
altercations with protestors. While relatively infrequent by U.S.
standards, street crime does occur. Most reported crimes involve
pick-pocketing in tourist areas and are predominantly non-violent in
nature. The security precautions a person would take in any large
city are appropriate throughout South Korea.
6. (SBU) As a matter of prudence, you must assume that all rooms,
telephones, cellular phones, and fax machines can be monitored. You
should not discuss sensitive or classified information in
uncontrolled areas. Official travelers should ensure that hard-copy
and electronic sensitive information is not left in hotel rooms.
Computers, including laptops and Personal Digital Assistants, cannot
be brought into the Embassy except with prior permission from the
RSO office.
7. (U) Police are considered capable and well trained. Seoul
metropolitan authorities staff English-speaking personnel 24 hours
daily to handle local emergencies. Telephone numbers are as
follows: 112 police emergency, 119 fire and ambulance.
VERSHBOW
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