PRC WORKING ON DPRK IN PRIVATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 014173 PASS TO IO/UNP AND EAP/K PASS TO NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER E.O. 12958: DECL: AFTER KOREAN UNIFICATION TAGS: PREL PARM MCCP MARR KNNP UNSC KN KS JA SUBJECT: PRC WORKING ON DPRK IN PRIVATE REF: STATE 111132 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David Sedney. Reasons 1.4 (b/d) . ¶1. (C) Summary: China shares the same objectives with the United States, which should not be disappointed with China's actions or statements, MFA Director General Liu Jieyi said in response to the DCM's delivery of reftel points. As opposed to the 1998 UNSC "Statement to the Press," China favors a formal UNSC Presidential Statement at this time, according to Liu. He argued that the PRC's July 5 public statement in Beijing expressing grave concern and calling for restraint was directed squarely at the DPRK. Besides the public statements, he claimed that China is working on the DPRK in private, where Beijing can be more frank with Pyongyang. Liu CONFIDENTIAL 2 of 3 CONFIDENTIAL 2 of 3 said that China would use Vice Premier Hui Liangyu's long-planned visit to the DPRK to make the DPRK realize how the overwhelming negative international reaction to the missile launches harm North Korea's own interests. The DCM stressed that the PRC's July 5 statement was equivocal, oblique and unclear, emphasizing that Beijing must send a clear signal to the DPRK that its conduct is unacceptable. End summary. ¶2. (C) During a July 6 morning meeting on Taiwan issues (septel) with MFA North American and Oceanian Affairs DG Liu Jieyi, the DCM used reftel points to convey to U.S. disappointment with China's opposition to a legally- binding UNSC resolution condemning the DPRK missile launches. Stressing that a step like the 1998 non-binding message will be insufficient, the DCM emphasized that it is critical for the UNSC to quickly send a clear, strong and unanimous message to Pyongyang that the DPRK actions are completely unacceptable. ¶3. (C) Liu said he would pass on the U.S. points to the appropriate officials in the MFA Asian Affairs and International Organization Departments. Noting that he was speaking personally, Liu said that while the 1998 UNSC response to the DPRK launch of the Taepondong-1 was to adopt a "Statement to the Press," China favored a Presidential Statement as a more formal and stronger response to DPRK's July 4 missile launches. (NOTE: Liu then at the PRC UN Mission personally helped negotiate the 1998 statement. End note.) ¶4. (C) The DCM said the United States views the PRC Government's July 5 evening statement in Beijing on the DPRK missile launches as equivocal, oblique and unclear. While noting that China is gravely concerned about the DPRK's actions, the DCM pointed out that the statement also called for all sides to remain calm despite the DPRK being the only party engaging in destabilizing action and threatening regional and global security by breaking its own moratorium on missile launches. The United States and North Korea's other neighbors will be closely watching PRC Vice Premier Hui Liangyu's upcoming visit to North Korea, noting that the visit will be viewed as counterproductive and damaging if Hui does not deliver a clear message condemning the DPRK's action and if North Korea does not take positive steps. ¶5. (C) Liu responded that the July 5 PRC statement was firm and clear in expressing China's grave concern over the missile launches and that the message for the need for calm and restraint was for DPRK consumption. Beijing's urging CONFIDENTIAL 3 of 3 CONFIDENTIAL 3 of 3 that there be no more destabilizing action was directed at the possibility of further DPRK launches, Liu argued. Referring to Vice Premier Hui's visit, Liu said China will use any opportunity to make its points to the DPRK and that the DPRK should realize the overwhelming negative international reaction to the missile launches is not in North Korea's own interests. ¶6. (C) Liu said the United States should not be disappointed with China's actions, positions or statements. Beijing shares the same objectives with the United States regarding the DRPK, but has different ideas on the best way to proceed. Liu said that more important than public statements, China is working on the DPRK in private, where it is more frank. RANDT NNNN