Korea Aerospace Research Institute - Spain Communications

[Jay]

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To: Spanish Ministry of National Defense & Spanish Space Agency Bruno CC: ParkHyunmin@NIS.gov, KimMinseo@cheongwadae.kr.gov, ParkHyunjin@mnd.kr.gov

From: LimCheolho@Kari.kr.org

Subject:[Confidential] Satellite Station

Security: Private and encrypted Protected by the NIS and MoFA DPB

Dear Whom it may concern,
Secretary of Defense of the Republic of Spain

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PREFACE
THIS EMAIL IS HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL AND IS DELIVERED TO THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT
ACCESSING THIS EMAIL IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE UNDER THE 1997 DIPLOMATIC COMMUNICATION ACT
IF YOU ARE NOT ITS INTENDED RECIPIENT PLEASE DELETE THE EMAIL AND INFORM THE KOREAN GOVERNMENT​

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This email is being sent on behalf of the Korean Aerospace Research Institute, Korea's civil research and development program for the exploration of space and beyond. The Republic of Korea, based on Spain's geographical and close friendship with the Republic of Korea hopes to expand Korea's satellite network and capabilities. While largely a civil measure, the Republic of Korea also wishes to secure its capabilities of detection, surveillance, and awareness on a military level. Hence, the need for extreme confidentiality. The Korean Government has lowered the security clearance of the contents of this email to allow those within the Spanish Government's security agencies to discuss the requests of the Republic of Korea.

Final efforts are being put together for the Republic of Korea's Arirang-2 Satellite which is a civilian and military satellite to be used for conducting intelligence gathering and surveillance of threats to the Republic of Korea. As one of Korea's close partners, Spain is strategically placed to allow 24/7 control, capture, and sending of intelligence through two satellite stations. We hope that the Republic of Korea could be granted the ability to construct a satellite station for dual-use of civilian monitoring and receiving stations deliver of satellite imager after acquisition. The station in Spain would be responsible for updating the catalogue, producing imagery and delivering it to the Republic of Korea.

We hope that Spain could offer us the ability to construct a permeant Korean station in Spain and an appropriate agreement may be signed if this is more appropriate for your government. We hope you can respond to our government in a manner convenient to you and maintaining the privacy of these conversations as a delicate matter of Korean National Security.

Signed with sincerity,

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Republic of Korea
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
All information is protected from release by the Diplomatic Communications Security Act 1997
Authorized viewing is limited to those directly emailed, cc'd, and bcc'd​

 

[Bruno]

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Republic of Spain

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This message is private & encrypted

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To the Honorable Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mrs. Jeonghee Baek

Currently, the Spanish Republic, can disclose with Korea that we are planning to further develop the Spanish Aerospace Research which will focus entirely on Defense matters, which its research and manufacturing facility will be ready in the coming weeks, we however can not disclose its location at this time. We are open to a closer partnership with the Korean Aerospace Research Institute, however we don't entirely agree with your proposal, we would accept that Korea be allowed to construct and launch the Arirang-2 Satellite in Spanish facilities, however this would turn into a double effort, in which both Spain and Korea are allowed full acess to the satellite, meaning Spain and Korea would both receive equal amounts of information for the purpose of motorization of the globe and National Security. This in turn would mean that Spain and Korea would share the expenses between each other too. This would further pave the way for future cooperation such as manned missions.

With great appreciation and kind regards,
Secretary of State of the Republic of Spain
The Honourable Mr. Carlos Westendorp y Cabeza

Jay