VIETNAMESE RESPOND FAVORABLY TO U.S. REQUEST FOR

S E C R E T HANOI 001949

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2016
TAGS: EFIN CTERR ECON IO PREL KN VN
SUBJECT: VIETNAMESE RESPOND FAVORABLY TO U.S. REQUEST FOR
INTERDICTION OF NORTH KOREAN BANKING ACTIVITY

REF: A. REF A) SECSTATE 105317


B. REF B) HANOI 1594

C. REF C) HANOI 1595

Classified By: Ambassador Michael W. Marine, Reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (S) Summary and Comment: In a July 19 meeting with
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director General for the
Asia I Department Nguyen Ba Cu, Treasury Under Secretary
Stuart Levey and the Ambassador raised U.S. concerns over
North Korean banking activity in Vietnam. This was following
up on previous demarches delivered to Vietnam regarding the
potential engagement of Tanchon Commercial Bank and KOMID in
Vietnam. Cu assured Levey that Vietnam puts U.S. concerns
over those of North Korea and that Vietnam will do its best
to respond to the U.S. request. Cu made clear that while the
Government of Vietnam (GVN) does not wish to publicly condemn
or disavow its relationship with North Korea, it is willing
to cooperate discreetly on matters of high priority for the
United States such as this. End Summary and Comment.



2. (S) The Under Secretary began by noting the United
States, very strong interest in seeing Vietnam continue to
grow and succeed, and highlighted the growing cooperation
between our two countries. Levey added that as a country,s
development is tied to the health of its financial system, it
is important that Vietnam,s financial system not be tainted
by dealings with disreputable companies and banks. The U.S.
concerns shared on June 28 (ref A) about North Korean banking
are part of a larger effort to block North Korea from
financing its illegal activities, including WMD
proliferation. It is very important, urged Levey, for
Vietnam to take appropriate action to ensure that Vietnam not
be exploited by North Korean firms to facilitate their
illicit activities. He noted that, particularly given the
recent DPRK missile launches and subsequent U.N. Security
Council Resolution, these activities need to be shut out of
Vietnam completely and any accounts found need to be frozen.
Levey emphasized that the United States is not interested in
any public or political statements of Vietnam,s actions, but
simply to ensure this business was stopped.


3. (S) Cu assured the Under Secretary that Vietnam clearly
understands the U.S. concerns and considers its relationship
with the U.S. a high priority. Vietnam does not want to risk
harming its relationship with the United States over a matter
like this. Vietnam has very &small8 relations with North
Korea and believes that recent North Korean activity,
including the July 4 missile tests, do little to help the
peace and stability of the region. In fact, Cu admitted that
Vietnam does not really understand North Korean thinking at
all and has only a &traditional8 relationship with the
country. Vietnam is aware, said Cu, of the implications of
UN Security Council Resolutions 1540 and 1673, especially as
they relate to financial transactions with North Korea. Cu
stressed that Vietnam will not allow its banks to trade with
terrorist actors and will take strong actions if they detect
any such activity.


4. (S) The Ambassador reiterated the significance and
importance of this matter to the United States and urged DG
Cu to pass specific information back to the United States on
Vietnam,s efforts to stop North Korean financial activity.
The Under Secretary,s visit is evidence of how highly the
United State prioritizes this issue. He added that there are
certain steps the United States will have to take if we are
not able to clearly see that the Vietnam-North Korea banking
relationship is over. Cu assured the Ambassador that
Vietnam,s banks &have already been warned8 of the risks of
DPRK facilitation and that he clearly understands U.S.
concerns about this matter.


5. (U) This message was cleared by Treasury staff.

MARINE
MARINE