[Australia]: Message to Korea [SEC=PROTECTED]

[Owen]

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MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: PROTECTED (Encrypted)​

15 May 2000​

Dear Minister for Foreign Affairs of Korea, I am currently in Israel but the meeting isn't going to plan, I would like to visit Korea to begin a formal diplomatic relationship between our two nations. So far we have had minimal engagements and we had some issues under your previous administration in terms of its relationship to Sweden, which at the time was on the brink of war with Australia. I think there are many opportunities for us to expand our relationship, a relationship which will no doubt ensure peace and stability and prosperity for the Indo-Pacific region. Our Government made a promise a couple of years ago to fund development projects in the former North Korea which never came to fruition. We would still like to look at ways in which we can fund development in what is still an economically disparaged region of your country. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Kevin Rudd, MP.

Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7700​

Protective Marking:	Business Impact Level:	Compromise of Information Confidentiality:	Required to be Encrypted:
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OFFICIAL: Sensitive	Low to Medium Business Impact	Limited damage to an individual, organisation or government generally if compromised.
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JamieA

 

[JamieA]

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Security Clarification: Encrypted & Secure​

To: Kevin.Rudd@dfat.gov.au < Owen > Cc: Pin.Young-Jae@mofa.go.kr From: ch'o.hyo@mofa.go.kr Subject: Fw: Meeting

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Dear Minister Rudd I thank you for sending an email, sadly the Foreign Minister is currently preoccupied in a state meeting therefore the email has been forwarded to myself, I can host you at your earliest convenience to discuss matters that you have mentioned and any other matters that spring to mind in the meeting. I look forward to a reply from you. Warmest regards, Mr. Ch'o Hyo Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs

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© Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea​

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[Owen]

​

MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: PROTECTED (Encrypted)​

18 August 2000​

Dear Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, I will be setting off from Israel shortly en route to Seoul. Yours sincerely, Kevin Rudd, MP.

Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7700​

Protective Marking:	Business Impact Level:	Compromise of Information Confidentiality:	Required to be Encrypted:
UNOFFICIAL	No Business Impact	No damage. This information does not form part of official duty.
OFFICIAL	Low Business Impact	No or insignificant damage. This is the majority of routine information.
OFFICIAL: Sensitive	Low to Medium Business Impact	Limited damage to an individual, organisation or government generally if compromised.
PROTECTED	High Business Impact	Damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
SECRET	Extreme Business Impact	Serious damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
TOP SECRET	Catastrophic Business Impact	Exceptionally grave damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.

Kevin Rudd would head back to Ben Gurion Airport and board the RAAF Boeing 737BBJ that was sitting there. They would take off and head to Korea, flying over Asia. China would be alerted that an unarmed RAAF VIP transport aircraft would be flying over their airspace.

JamieA Axis12

 

[JamieA]

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At Seoul International Airport a convoy awaiting for the Australian Minister, once the Minister would be inside the vehicle the vehicle would take the scenic route to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where the Vice Minister would be waiting in a conference room. Within the conference room there would be refreshments brought in for the Australian delegation in case they were peckish after their recent flight from Israel.

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Owen

 

[Owen]

The Minister would watch the Olympics Opening Ceremony in the car. Once arrived he would exit the vehicle and head into the building where he was taken to the conference room.

"Mr. Hyo, it's a pleasure to finally meet you and to make my first ever visit to Korea." He would shake his hand before taking a seat.

JamieA

 

[JamieA]

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"Mr Rudd, the pleasure is all mine! I hope the flight wasn't too long for yourself, please do help yourself" the Minister would firmly shake Minister Rudds hand, then gesture to the refreshments laid out on the table before continuing "Mr Rudd, you initiated the talks between our two nations, so it is only fair that you begin the talks here. How can I help you?" the Korean Minister would sit back in his seat, pulling his water bottle to his mouth taking a sip

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Owen

 

[Owen]

"We want to see free and open trade with between us, we aim to see free and open trade in the Indo-Pacific. We were thinking of forming the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group and the possibility to move to a free trade area but we can begin with a bilateral free trade agreement. But first, I just watched the Olympic Opening Ceremony on the way here and noticed Korea didn't march into the stadium. Why is that?"

JamieA

 

[JamieA]

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"Korea, hasn't entered the Olympics due to the fact that we're getting back on our feet and we would see it unfit to enter a competition when we wouldn't be able to give our best, maybe next time." the Vice Minister paused clearing their throat before continuing "To enter a free trade, we would need to see a draft agreement which then can be past on to the correct departments to valuate the cost and the benefit for it for the people of Korea. Do you have one to hand? Would you be able to tell us more about this "Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group" so we can get a better understanding off it and see if it will benefit us"

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Owen

 

[JamieA]

Owen