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
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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
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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
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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
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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