DENMARK SUPPORTS TOUGH UNSC STATEMENT ON NORTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 001355 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2016 TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP UNSC KN DA SUBJECT: DENMARK SUPPORTS TOUGH UNSC STATEMENT ON NORTH KOREA REF: STATE 166404 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Sandra Kaiser, reasons 1.4b,d ¶1. (C) Danish MFA Head of Department for Asia (A/S-equivalent) Susan Ulbaek expressed full agreement with reftel points on North Korea's nuclear test threat, and indicated October 4 that the Danish UN mission in New York has been instructed to work toward "the strongest possible Presidential Statement that can be endorsed by the full Security Council." Ulbaek underscored the desirability of maintaining unanimity among UNSC members on this issue -- with the Chinese most of all. Should the North Koreans actually follow through on their threat, there is "no question" that the Security Council must respond with a sanctions resolution, she said. ¶2. (C) Ulbaek and MFA East Asia Team Leader Jonas Parello-Plesner observed that the North Koreans have their backs against the wall, which they attributed to the effectiveness of U.S. financial sanctions directed against the Pyongyang regime (the Macao bank measures). The DPRK is keen to demonstrate that it can defend itself against a Western assault, Ulbaek noted, suggesting, however, that Kim Jong-Il, for all his evident irrationality and paranoia, may at the same time also be seeking to raise the stakes to entice the U.S. into agreeing to bilateral talks. ¶3. (C) Denmark naturally favors a negotiated solution to the issue, Ulbaek stated, and maintains (admittedly now-diminishing) hope that the North Koreans can be persuaded to return to the Six-Party Talks. That said, she emphasized, the Danish government cannot accept a nuclear-armed North Korea. CAIN