DEMARCHE ON POSSIBLE DPRK NUCLEAR TEST: ROMANIANS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 001544 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/NCE AARON JENSEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2016 TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP KN RO SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON POSSIBLE DPRK NUCLEAR TEST: ROMANIANS SUPPORT USG POSITION REF: STATE 166404 Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Tanoue for Reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (C) In the absence of the Foreign Minister, Ambassador called on Romanian MFA State Secretary Cosmin Viorita October ¶4. In response to reftel points, Viorita responded that he totally shared the USG view on the issue, and that the GOR strongly condemned the DPRK announcement. Viorita also agreed with the USG call for the DPRK to rejoin the six-party talks. He cited the risk that a DPRK nuclear test might precipitate a new proliferation cycle in the region, noting that the test might elicit a reaction from Japan followed by a possible Chinese counter-reaction. Viorita added that Foreign Ministry analysts were puzzled by the DPRK move, since it was unclear what Pyongyang really wanted to accomplish at this time. He said that the GOR also associated itself completely with an EU Presidency statement condemning the DPRK announcement. In closing, Viorita said that he would immediately inform the Prime Minister of the substance of this discussion, adding that "you can count on us" in this matter. Taubman