TNAG-0325-FCO40-361-Proposed-visit-by-the-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1972 — Page 56

Sir S Tomlinson

Private Secretary

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Secretary of Stake

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INVITATION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO VISIT KOREA

1. During Mr Trench's farewell interview with him the

recently appointed Korean Foreign Minister, Kim Yang Shik,

suggested that the Secretary of State should visit Korea when

he is next in that part of the world. The Ambassador supports

the suggestion.

2.

Earlier this year the Foreign Minister suggested that the Prime Minister should visit Korea when he visited Singapore for the Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conference. The Koreans

have also shown interest in the Queen's projected visit to

Japan, hinting that when the timing is clearer they would hope to invite her to extend her journey to Korea.

3. In October 1965 the then Foreign Secretary, Mr Stewart,

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paid a two-day visit to Korea before going on to Japan for the Anglo-Japanese Ministerial consultations. Although his visit

was brief he was able to meet the President and the Prime Minister

as well as the Foreign Minister. His visit received full and

favourable coverage in the press and on television.

Since then

the only Ministerial visits to Korea have been those of Mr Foley,

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign Office in

1968, and Mr Whitaker, Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the

Ministry of Overseas Development, in 1970.

4.

Korea is of increasing importance. The Korean economy

has one of the highest growth rates in the world. Our commercial interests there are significant and increasing.

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Our exports to

/Korea