ROK TO WITHDRAW FORCES FROM RVN 'IMMEDIATELY'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-248-8-34-1
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: April 27, 2010
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: January 24, 1973
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/04/27: LOC-HAK-248-8-34-1
o
TO WITHDRAW FORCES FROM RVN 'IMMEDIATELY'
B240940 SEOUL HAPTONG IN ENGLISH 0804 GMT 24 JAt 73 B
(TEXT) SEOUL, JAN. 24 (HAPTONG)-- PRESIDENT PAK CHONG-HUI
TODAY WELCOMED THE AGREEMENT TO END THE WAR IN VIETNAM, ANNOUNCING
AN IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF THE 40,000-MAN KOREAN FORCE FROM SOUTH
-VIETNAM.
IN A SPECIAL STATEMENT ISSUED HERE THIS AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT
PAK ALSO SAID HIS GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE "ITS STRONG BONDS OF
FRIENDSHIP WITH THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM AND WILL OFFER ALL
POSSIBLE COOPERATION TO THAT COUNTRY IN THE POSTWAR RECONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS."
HE SAID THAT THE END OF THE LONG-DRAWN-OUT WAR IN VIETNAM
BEARS TESTIMONY TO THE SUCCESSFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE MISSION
BY THE KOREAN TROOPS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE WAR-TORN COUNTRY
SINCE 1965.
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT WAS AS FOLLOWS=
"I WELCOME THE END OF THE LONG-DRAWN-OUT WAR IN VIETNAM AND
THE RESTORATION OF PEACE IN THAT AREA. THE KOREAN GOVERNMENT,
THE PEOPLE AND I SINCERELY WISH THAT THE CEASE-FIRE WILL LEAD
TO LASTING PEACE IN VIETNAM.
"KOREAN TROOPS HAVE SERVED IN VIETNAM SINCE 1965 AT THE
REQUEST OF THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT TO HELP THE VIETNAMESE
PEOPLE DEFEND THEIR FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE AND DECIDE THEIR
OWN DESTINY.
"NOW THAT-THE ORIGINAL MISSION OF THE KOREAN TROOPS HAS BEEN
ACCOMPLISHED, I HAVE DECIDED TO CARRY OUT THE HONORABLE WITHDRAWAL
OF THE REMAINING FORCES FROM VIETNAM IMMEDIATELY.
"THE REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE KOREAN CRUSADERS FOR
PEACE WHO WILL SOON RETURN HOME HONORABLY WILL SHINE FOREVER
IN THE ANNALS OF PEACE AND JUSTICE.
"NOW I EXTEND MY WHOLEHEARTED CONGRATULATIONS TO THE KOREAN
TROOPS IN VIETNAM WHO HAVE BRAVELY AND FAITHFULLY FULFILLED THEIR
DUTIES IN THE BATTLEFIELD WITHOUT FRONTLINES.
"MY PROFOUND GRATITUDE ALSO GOES TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GIVEN
ALL-OUT ASSISTANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO ALL KOREAN OFFICERS
AND MEN IN VIETNAM AND THEIR FAMILIES SO THAT THE CRUSADERS
FOR PEACE CAN RETURN HOME WITH HONOR.
"THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA WILL CONTINUE ITS STRONG BONDS OF
FRIENDSHIP WITH THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM AND WILL OFFER ALL
POSSIBLE COOPERATION TO THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE
IN THEIR EFFORTS FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION."
FBIS 52 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/04/27: LOC-HAK-248-8-34-1 a
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No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/04/27: LOC-HAK-248-8-34-1
11JOFFICIAL USE 00
B240940 SEOUL HAPTONG IN ENGLISH 0829 GMT 24 JAN 73 B
(TEXT) SEOUL, JAN. 24 (HAPTONG)--SOUTH KOREA WILL WITHDRAW
ITS 40,000-STRONG FORCE FROM SOUTH VIETNAM ON- A GRADUAL BASIS
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VIETNAM CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT CALLING FOR
COMPLETE PULLOUT OF FOREIGN TROOPS WITHIN 60 DAYS, DEFENSE MINISTER
YU CHAE-HUNG SAID TODAY.
THE DEFENSE CHIEF SAID THAT THE PHASED KOREAN MILITARY WITHDRAWAL
WILL START SOON FOR COMPLETION BEFORE THE 60-DAY DEADLINE.
THE WITHDRAWAL PLAN WILL BE CARRIED OUT AFTER FULL CONSULTATIONS
WITH THE SAIGON GOVERNMENT, IT SAID.
THE MINISTER MADE THE STATEMENT AFTER HE MET WITH MAJOR
MILITARY COMMANDERS HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO DISCUSS A WHOLE RANGE
OF PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE TROOP WITHDRAWAL.
MEANWHILE, INFORMED SOURCES SAIDA ROUGH TIMETABLE ENDING THE
7-YEAR-LONG KOREAN MILITARY PRESENCE IN SOUTH VIETNAM WAS AGREED
ON BETWEEN SEOUL AND WASHINGTON WHEN U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY
GEN. ALEXANDER HAIG VISITED HERE LAST WEEKEND.
GEN. HAIG MADE AN OVERNIGHT VISIT TO SEOUL ON HIS WAY BACK
HOME FROM SAIGON FOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT CHUNG-HEE PARK.
SOUTH KOREAN TROOPS, THE ONLY FOREIGN GROUND FORCES NOW
IN SOUTH VIETNAM, HAVE SERVED THERE SINCE 1965.
24 1305Z GP/GFE
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/04/27: LOC-HAK-248-8-34-1