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FM SEOUL
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 46
OF 310757Z JANUARY 91
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HKB 020/3
Your GF
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Wpeated to HK.
17
175557
MDHIAN 1570
INFO ROUTINE WASHINGTON, MODUK, TREASURY, CABINET OFFICE, ACTOR
SIC I9M
MODUK FOR SEC OC
TREASURY FOR PS/CHANCELLOR
WASHINGTON TELNO 300: IRAQ-KUWAIT BURDEN SHARING: KOREAN CONTRIBUTION
1. THE KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER FORMALLY ANNOUNCED ON 30 JANUARY THE ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION OF US DOLLARS 280 MILLION MENTIONED IN TUR.
2. FOREIGN MINISTER LEE SAID IT WOULD COMPRISE APPROX US DOLLARS 170 MILLION WORTH OF MILITARY SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT (INCLUDING COMBAT FATIGUES AND BARBED WIRE) AND US DOLLARS 110 MILLION IN CASH AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. HE SAID THE MINISTRY HAD DECIDED IN PRINCIPLE TO SEND FIVE C-130 MILITARY TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT TO HELP FERRY MATERIALS AND PERSONNEL IN SAUDI ARABIA. DETAILS WILL BE WORKED OUT BETWEEN THE KOREAN AND US GOVERNMENTS. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IS EXPECTED TO APPROVE THIS ADDITIONAL PACKAGE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
3. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH KOREA'S YONHAP NEWS AGENCY ON 29 JANUARY US AMBASSADOR TO KOREA DONALD GREGG SAID THE US GOVERNMENT HAD NOT ASKED FOR COMBAT TROOPS TO BE SENT FROM KOREA NOR DID HE HAVE ANY INDICATION THAT THIS WAS A POSSIBILITY. HE DID SAY THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE OF SOME KIND BUT HOPED THAT KOREA WOULD, BY WHATEVER CONTRIBUTION IT MADE, BE ACTING AS A FRIEND OF THE UNITED STATES AND AS A STRONG MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF FREE NATIONS. US EMBASSY POLITICAL COUNSELLOR TOLD US ON 30 JANUARY THAT EXTRA ASSISTANCE HAD BEEN DISCUSSED 'VERY INFORMALLY' WITH THE KOREANS, THE MESSAGE BEING THAT THEY MIGHT LIKE TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING. THE US EMBASSY TELL US THEY ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THIS SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT.
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