Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HAVANA20783
2006-10-11 20:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Interests Section Havana
Cable title:  

CUBANS UNEASY WITH DPRK NUKE TEST

Tags:  PREL KN PARM KNNP CU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7007
RR RUEHAG
DE RUEHUB #0783/01 2842024
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 112024Z OCT 06 ZDK
FM USINT HAVANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8124
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0028
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0008
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0006
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 020783 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2016
TAGS: PREL KN PARM KNNP CU
SUBJECT: CUBANS UNEASY WITH DPRK NUKE TEST

REF: A. (A) SECSTATE 196418


B. (B) HAVANA 18991

C. (C) HAVANA 18307

HAVANA 00020783 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: COM Michael Parmly for Reason 1.4 (?)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 020783

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2016
TAGS: PREL KN PARM KNNP CU
SUBJECT: CUBANS UNEASY WITH DPRK NUKE TEST

REF: A. (A) SECSTATE 196418


B. (B) HAVANA 18991

C. (C) HAVANA 18307

HAVANA 00020783 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: COM Michael Parmly for Reason 1.4 (?)


1. (C) Summary: The Cuban Government on October 10 signaled
its displeasure with North Korea's reported nuclear test. In
language lacking the warmth usually reserved for a fellow
communist nation, Cuban state media reported the UN Security
Council's condemnation of the reported underground blast and
noted firm Chinese opposition as well. The GOC's detailed
reference to the Chinese Government's position speaks volumes
about China's growing role as a "sugar daddy" to the regime.
End Summary.


2. (U) The GOC responded coolly October 10 to North Korea's
reported nuclear test, in a state-media article that notes
UNSC and Chinese objections but offers no firm GOC position,
and also no solidarity to a fellow communist nation. In a
front-page, two-column article in Granma (translation below),
the GOC notes that the Security Council met and condemned the
incident. The article adds that the UNSC is poised to
discuss economic and other sanctions against North Korea.


3. (U) Tellingly, the article describes in detail the Chinese
Government's firm opposition to the reported underground
test. It quotes three times from the Chinese Government's
"strong statement" on the matter, including its view that the
North Koreans ignored "the generalized opposition of the
international community."

COMMENT
--------------


4. (C) Granma's detailed remarks on the Chinese position
speak volumes about China's growing importance to the Cuban
regime. And for good reason; trade between the two countries
has doubled over the past five years, according to Cuba's
Minister of Economics and Planning (reftel B). China has
half a billion dollars invested in Cuba's nickel industry,
plus major investments in energy, electronics, transportation
and biotechnology. Cuba sees China right behind Venezuela as
an economic benefactor (reftel C). The GOC is pragmatically
defending its hopes for further trade financing credits from
China. In short, the Cuban regime knows what side its bread
is margarined on.

TRANSLATION
--------------


5. (U) Following is an unofficial translation of the Cuban
announcement:

On October 3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's
Democratic Republic of Korea announced that it intended to
carry out a nuclear test. Six days later, it was learned
that the nuclear test had taken place.

On that same day, October 9, almost unanimous critical
commentaries immediately began appearing regarding that
event.

The UN Security Council met in the morning of the 9th and its
members condemned the test, which they said was a threat to
international peace and security.
According to what has been announced, that UN body is to meet
to discuss a proposed resolution on the matter, which
predictably will be based on a document that is already
circulating and includes economic and other types of
sanctions against the People's Democratic Republic of Korea.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said that this action
violates the international regulations on disarmament and
non-proliferation, as well as the current moratorium on
nuclear testing.

The People's Republic of China issued a strong statement,
affirming that "the People's Democratic Republic of Korea
flagrantly carried out the nuclear test, ignoring the
generalized opposition of the international community." The
Chinese Government also stated that it was "firmly opposed to
that action." Likewise, it "urged all parties involved to
respond serenely and to persist in the search for a solution
via consultation and dialogue." China announced that it

HAVANA 00020783 002.2 OF 002


would "continue making every effort to reach that goal."

It is to be expected that the coming days will be highly
tense in international political and diplomatic circles, when
discussion begins in the UN Security Council on a series of
heavy international sanctions against the People's Democratic
Republic of Korea as a result of the nuclear test. End
unofficial translation.
PARMLY