Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XIX, Part 1, Korea, 1969–1972

171. Telegram From the Embassy in Korea to the Department of State¹

Seoul, December 16, 1972, 0047Z.

7216. Subj: ROK Forces in Viet-Nam.

1. ROK Minister of Defense Yu Chae Hung spoke to me about withdrawal of ROK forces from Viet-Nam regardless of outcome of present negotiating efforts. He said his government had withheld its decision on such withdrawal because question would become academic if present negotiations succeeded and ROK forces withdrew under the terms of the agreement.

2. Yu said his government wished to begin withdrawing troops on January 2 and complete all withdrawals by June 30. Vietnamese Government had requested withdrawal to begin in mid ‘73 with one division to be withdrawn by the end of the year and the second division to be withdrawn in 1974. ROKG had not yet replied formally to this request but was not likely to agree. Nevertheless ROKG did not want to “add to President Thieu’s troubles” at this time. Therefore they were quietly going ahead with their plans to begin withdrawal in January but not calling attention to their total withdrawal plan.

3. Minister Yu said preparing a unit for withdrawal required ten days time for turning its area over to the Vietnamese and assembling for lift. The first units were originally scheduled to begin withdrawal the first week in January and then continue at regular intervals. In the current circumstances they were prepared to postpone the beginning of the withdrawal cycle until the end of January. Even with this postponement they were still planning to get all their forces out by June 30, although there was always the possibility that President Park might reconsider on the basis of President Thieu’s request and make some adjustment in the withdrawal rate. In Yu’s opinion this would be only a modest adjustment and not likely to go anywhere near meeting Thieu’s wishes.

4. Yu asked if I had any news that could affect these withdrawal plans. I said that negotiations were obviously at a crucial point and I thought his government should await the outcome of the current round of meetings in Paris before making any decision. President Park would be kept informed on the course of negotiations. As he knew, under the terms of the agreement withdrawal would begin immediately and would be completed within sixty days. If agreement were not reached soon it seemed prudent for ROKG to be prepared to postpone beginning regular withdrawal cycle until end of January. In any event we might just sit tight for the time being and see what emerges from the negotiations.

Habib

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, DEF 6 KOR S. Secret; Exdis. Repeated to Saigon, CINCPAC for POLAD, and Secretary Laird.