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

[John]

"We welcome the ambition behind Australia’s proposal and agree our economies are highly complementary. Korea is prepared to move forward on broad tariff elimination with reasonable transition periods for sensitive sectors, including agriculture, supported by appropriate safeguards and review mechanisms. We would also hope to strengthen long-term cooperation in energy and critical minerals, expand professional mobility and services access, and ensure clear and transparent dispute resolution. If this reflects our shared direction, we are ready to receive your draft."

Owen

 

[Owen]

"Does Korea have any sort of special economic arrangement with the former North? Obviously when the two nations reunified there was massive disparity between the two, economically. Have you thought of establishing a special economic zone of sorts over the former North? Like a situation where there might be lower or no taxes on businesses operating within the zone, in an attempt to spur private investment and infrastructure growth? These things would obviously need to be addressed in an agreement. If it is not the current situation, may I suggest that perhaps a special economic zone could be beneficial for the people of the former North?"

John

 

[John]

"We are currently working to bring the North into the 21st century. We are currently building a number of infrastructure projects that will be a benefit to the people of the North, most notably, in my opinion: The Healthy Korea North initiative - a multi-billion dollar programme to renovate a number of hospitals and provide training to North Korean doctors and nurses, alongside the building or modernization of over a thousand rural clinics" He paused for a moment, before continuing on. "Then there is the Northern Prosperity Corridors Initiative, creating Special Economic Zones in the former North Korea and is to target the manufacturing, textiles, electronics, shipbuilding, and light industries."

Owen

 

[Owen]

"While we wait for an agreement to be drafted, I would like to move onto other discussions. In terms of defence, I am sure you are aware of the sacrifice that Australian forces made during the Korean War. One thing which I have noticed, every year during Anzac Day commemorations is that, despite the fact that the Korean War does not get nearly enough attention as it deserves, Australia has no national memorial in Korea. We have them all across the world in various locations, but not in Korea. One of the most notable battles we took part in was the Battle of Kapyong, where we fought alongside our Canadian brothers and sisters to stop the advance of Chinese forces onto Seoul. Currently there is a Gapyeong Canada Monument at the site, but nothing for Australia. We had three times the amount of casualties at that battle than Canada.

In Thailand we had an Interpretive Centre operated by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, basically an education centre and memorial, at the location of Hellfire Pass, where Australian POWs were used as slave labour by the Japanese during World War Two. Unfortunately, Thailand used certain domestic legal instruments to close down the centre and this has led to a deterioration in our relations. We would like it if some land could be set aside at the Gapyeong site for the Australian Government to fund and construct a national war memorial to Australian forces who fought in Korea and also an Interpretative Centre, to be a place of education about the Battle of Kapyong and the broader role of the United Nations during the Korean War."

John

 

[John]

"I wholeheartedly agree with you, the people of Australia gave so much to preserve the freedom that we Koreans hold so dear that it is an injustice that their sacrifice is not noted here. For that, I must give my apologies, the current administration has been focusing solely on the future that we have not looked into the past."

Owen