REPORTED DPRK NUCLEAR TEST: REACTION OF BEIJING

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 021227 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: AFTER KOREAN UNIFICATION TAGS: PREL UNSC MNUC PINR KN CH JN KS RU SUBJECT: REPORTED DPRK NUCLEAR TEST: REACTION OF BEIJING EMBASSIES Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Daniel Shields. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Officials from the Japanese, ROK, Russian, French and British Embassies in Beijing were in contact with Chinese officials October 9 about the reported DPRK nuclear test and said their capitals had made or would make statements condemning the DPRK action. The Japanese geological service recorded a 4.9 magnitude tremor which lacked the S-wave characteristic of a naturally caused earthquake, but Japan has not yet officially confirmed that the tremor emanated from a nuclear test. Increased police activity was reported in Pyongyang by the British Embassy in North Korea, but otherwise the situation was not out of the ordinary, according to the British Embassy in Beijing. End Summary. Japan Measures Tremor Possibly Caused By Nuke Test -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Japanese geological stations measured a tremor they believe to be generated by the nuclear test, Japanese Political Counselor Suzuki told poloff. Japan's geological service measured a 4.9 magnitude tremor at 41.2 degrees North and 129.2 degrees East that lacked the S-wave characteristic of naturally generated earthquakes, but the Japanese have not officially confirmed the tremor was produced by a nuclear test. The possible nuclear test was a topic of visiting Japanese PM Abe's meetings with both President Hu Jintao and PM Wen Jiabao, but these October 8 discussions took place before the reported October 9 test. Foreign Minister Aso is trying to place call to FM Li on the evening of October 9. ROK Six-Party Talks Negotiator Arrives in Beijing -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) ROK Six-Party Talks negotiator Deputy Foreign Minister Chun Yung-woo arrived in Beijing October 9, ROK Embassy Political Officer Kim Gunn told poloff. While DFM Chun came to Beijing to prepare for President Roh Moo-hyun's planned October 13 visit, Gunn noted that North Korea developments would now also be a key topic of discussion. French, Russian Condemnation; No UK Statement Yet -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Russian officials in Beijing have been in working-level contact about the presumptive nuclear test with MFA European Department officials, a Russian Embassy Officer told poloff. The Russians issued a statement in Moscow condemning the DPRK's defiance of the unanimous view of the international community, he said. ¶5. (C) French Political Counselor Erkki Maillard said the French have not approached the Chinese MFA yet on the DPRK test but Paris issued a statement condemning the reported test as an "act of great gravity." London is still drafting a statement to denounce the presumed test, a British Embassy Officer told poloff. British Embassy officers in Pyongyang noted increased police patrols in the vicinity of the diplomatic area, but nothing more, according to the British Embassy in Beijing. SEDNEY