TURKEY ON POSSIBLE NORTH KOREAN MISSILE TEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005790 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: AFTER KOREAN UNIFICATION TAGS: PREL KN PARM KNNP TU SUBJECT: TURKEY ON POSSIBLE NORTH KOREAN MISSILE TEST REF: STATE 166404 Classified By: DCM NANCY MCELDOWNEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D). 1.(C) Charge passed reftel points to MFA Deputy Undersecretary for Security Affairs Refat Akgunay on October 4. Akgunay said he understood U.S. concerns and promised Turkey would seek ways to be helpful. We followed up with MFA Arms Control Deputy Director General Bulent Meric the same day. Meric told us Turkey fully shares U.S. views on North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons. He explained that the GOT's new ambassador to North and South Korea, resident in Seoul, had recently presented his credentials in Pyongyang. Meric said the GOT has used this and other occasions to urge the North Koreans to resume Six-Party Talks and implement the September 2005 Joint Statement. The North Korean response has led the GOT to conclude the North Koreans have no intention of returning to Six-Party Talks at this time. The GOT will continue trying to be helpful, Meric promised. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON