YEMEN FM QIRBI LETTER ON SCUDS

S E C R E T SANAA 000156 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2013 TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL ADCO ADPM YM SUBJECT: YEMEN FM QIRBI LETTER ON SCUDS REF: A. 02 STATE 256621 ¶B. 02 SANAA 03996 ¶C. SANAA 000371 ¶D. SANAA 00055 Classified By: Ambassador Edmund J. Hull for Reasons 1.5 (b,d) ¶1. (S) Embassy Sanaa received a diplomatic note from the MFA on the issue of Yemen-North Korea missile cooperation on January 20 (text para 2). The note should be read in conjunction with report on Ambassador's conversation with the Minister of Defense (ref D),in which the MoD said that no deals for additional Scud missiles existed, a North Korean technical team would be coming to Yemen to assist with deployment of missiles recently received, and Yemen has deals with North Korea for spare parts for artillery and for radars. ¶2. (S) Text of note follows: Republic of Yemen Ministry of Foreign Affairs No.: 1/156/102/140 Date: January 19, 2003 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its best compliments to the Embassy of the friendly United States of America, Sana,a. The Ministry would like to inform the esteemed Embassy that the Republic of Yemen has no contracts with the Democratic People,s Republic of Korea with regard to the Scud missiles. The Ministry also would like to inform that the current cooperation between the Republic of Yemen and the People,s Democratic Republic of Korea is limited to spare parts and conventional items that are not banned and used for purposes of coastal defense. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs avails itself of this opportunity to express to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. To: Embassy of the United States of America, Sana,a. HULL