EU/DPRK: PRE-BRIEF OF TROIKA VISIT TO PYONGYANG

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 004756 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EAP/FO DETRANI, EAP/K FOSTER AND EUR/ERA BISHARAT E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2014 TAGS: PREL PHUM KNNP KN EUN USEU BRUSSELS SUBJECT: EU/DPRK: PRE-BRIEF OF TROIKA VISIT TO PYONGYANG REF: A. USEU BRUSSELS 1119 ¶B. USEU BRUSSELS 1081 ¶C. 03 USEU BRUSSELS 5510 Classified By: USEU Poloff Van Reidhead for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: A Directors-level Troika of EU officials will visit Pyongyang November 13-16 to press for North Korean cooperation in the Six Party Talks and to press for progress on human rights, economic reforms, ROK-DPRK relations and humanitarian assistance issues. The Troika will begin the trip with meetings in Beijing to prepare for the December 8 EU-China summit and finish up in Tokyo to brief the Japanese on the visit. Special Envoy DeTrani's visit to Brussels November 9-10 offers a valuable opportunity to convey USG concerns on these issues in advance of the Troika visit. END SUMMARY. -------------- EU to Raise Five Issues with DPRK -------------- ¶2. (C) Council Secretariat Principal Administrator and visit participant Antonio Tanca briefed poloff about plans for a November 13-16 Directors-level Troika visit to North Korea. While the terms of reference for the Troika's official meetings in Pyongyang were still in draft at the time of poloff's briefing, Tanca said that the EU would press the North Koreans for progress on five issues With the exception of humanitarian assistance, these issues are the same as those discussed during the EU's last Troika visit to North Korea, in 2003 (ref C). -- Six Party Process: The Troika will express EU support for the Six Party Process and press for DPRK cooperation in future talks. The Troika hopes also to gauge Pyongyang's views on the process following the US elections, and "hopes to see a (post-election) softening," Tanca said. -- Human Rights: The Troika will "express concerns" and urge the DPRK to resume its human rights discussions with the EU. The EU wants to make it clear, however, that talking about human rights would not give the DPRK immunity from further EU criticism of its HR abuses, including in the UN. -- Economic Reforms: The Troika will encourage the DPRK to expand and deepen the small efforts it has taken so far on economic reform, while making it clear that increased economic cooperation with the EU would be contingent on resolving the nuclear issue. -- DPRK-ROK Relations: The Troika will continue encouraging Pyongyang to "engage openly" with South Korea on peninsular and inter-Korean issues. -- Humanitarian Assistance: The Troika will express concern about the DPRK's recent announcements that it no longer needs as much humanitarian assistance and will further restrict access for aid workers. The Troika hopes to meet also with NGOs and international organization delegations in North Korea to discuss this issue. -------------- Travel Itinerary -------------- ¶3. (C) The Troika will travel first to Beijing, then to Pyongyang for a three-day visit, and wrap up in Tokyo: -- November 12: The Troika will meet with European Affairs personnel from the MFA to discuss plans for the December 8 EU-China summit. The delegation will also put on its COASI (Asia Working Group) hat and hold a COASI troika with the PRC. -- November 13-15: Meetings in Pyongyang and with NGOs and international organizations. -- November 16: Return to Beijing to debrief the Chinese on the DPRK visit. -- November 17: Fly to Tokyo to debrief the Japanese on the visit. The Troika will also discuss implementation of agreements reached at the EU-Japan summit earlier this year. -------------- Troika Participants -------------- ¶4. (U) For the Dutch EU Presidency: MFA Asia Director Robert Milders (Troika Chair); Asia Deputy Director Margarita Bot; Korea Director Robert Dresen; Dutch Ambassador in Seoul -- For Luxembourg (incoming EU Presidency): Ambassador Laurence -- For the Council Secretariat: Principal Administrator Antonio Tanca -- For the Commission: North America and East Asia Director Richard Wright; DPRK Desk Officer Maria Castilla-Fernandez -------------- DeTrani Visit an Opportunity for US -------------- ¶5. (C) The November 9-10 visit to Brussels of DPRK Special Envoy DeTrani and EAP/K Foster provides the US an opportunity to convey our concerns about current DPRK issues just prior to the Troika's departure. As with the 2003 Troika visit, the EU has been very forthcoming with their plans and the promise of a full readout upon their return. Council DG Cooper and others (refs A, B) have repeatedly made clear the EU's desire to play a constructive role in resolving the nuclear standoff with North Korea, and to do so in a way that supports the Six Party Process and US leadership on the issue. Schnabel