DEMARCHES DELIVERED: GOP REACTION TO DPRK NUCLEAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 020669 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2016 TAGS: KN KNNP PK PREL UN SUBJECT: DEMARCHES DELIVERED: GOP REACTION TO DPRK NUCLEAR TEST AND UNSCR 1718 REF: A. STATE 172816 ¶B. STATE 169418 ¶C. STATE 166404 ¶D. GRENCIK-AGUILAR EMAIL 04 OCT 2006 ¶E. GRENCIK-AGUILAR EMAIL 09 OCT 2006 Classified By: DCM Peter W. Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This cable contains an action request -- please see para. 6. ¶2. (C) Summary: The Government of Pakistan has condemned the nuclear tests conducted by North Korea and is in the process of preparing administrative notices necessary for UNSCR 1718 to take effect in Pakistan. Despite the GOP's strong language condemning the DPRK action, South Korean diplomats have heard rumors that the DPRK gave the GOP advance notice of the October 8 test. While the MFA has assured post that the GOP maintains only minimal diplomatic ties with North Korea, a high-ranking member of the government toasted Pakistan-(North) Korean friendship at an Islamabad party on October 13. End summary. ¶3. (U) The Government of Pakistan has taken a firm stand condemning the North Korean nuclear test. On October 4, the MFA issued a press statement saying that North Korea's announced intention to conduct a nuclear test was a "matter of deep concern for Pakistan." the GOP urged the DPRK to desist from introducing nuclear weapons into the Korean Peninsula, calling the prospect "deeply destabilizing." The statement noted Pakistan's support for the six-party talks. (Ref D) Following news of the test, the MFA Spokesperson read the following statement at her regularly-scheduled Monday press briefing: -- Pakistan deplores the announcement by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea that it has conducted a nuclear test. This would be a destabilizing development for the region. -- We had urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to desist from introducing nuclear weapons in the Korean Peninsula. It is regrettable that the DPRK chose to ignore the advice of the international community not to test a nuclear weapon device. -- Pakistan has consistently supported the Six-party talks. We believe this mechanism should have been used to address North Korea's concerns. We hope that all the countries in the region would exercise restraint. ¶4. (SBU) Poloffs have delivered several demarches on the North Korean nuclear test to the MFA (Disarmament Cell). (Ref A, B, C) MFA officers have not been willing to offer analysis or comment on the situation beyond the public statement deploring the DPRK action. ¶5. (SBU) During an October 19 office call, Disarmament Director Mohammad Kamran Akhtar told poloffs that he had prepared a notice of UNSCR 1718 to be published in the Gazette of Pakistan, a necessary step under Pakistani law in order for a Security Council resolution to take effect. Akhtar noted that he had intended to append to the notice the list of proscribed items related to weapons of mass destruction referenced in OP 8 of the resolution, but could not locate the documents on the UN web site. He has requested assistance from the Pakistani UN Mission, but also asked poloffs if they could help him locate the missing documents. ¶6. (U) Action Request: Post requests Department's (SCA and IO) assistance in locating documents No.S/2006/814 and S/2006/815, referenced in OP 8, so that we can expedite the GOP's publication of UNSCR 1718. ISLAMABAD 00020669 002 OF 002 ¶7. (C) Comment: Despite the MFA's strong statements condemning the North Korean test, fanciful rumors have circulated through Islamabad that Pakistan had been advised of the test in advance. Poloffs asked Akhtar about a Japanese press report that a delegation of approximately 20 Pakistani scientists had crossed into DPRK from China in the days before the test. Akhtar flatly denied the report, saying that the MFA has not approved the travel of any scientists to DPRK. Earlier in the week, the Deputy Chief of the South Korean Embassy solicited PolCouns' views of a rumor that the North Korean ambassador had called on President Musharraf on October 7, a day before the test. (Note: When told that emboffs had not heard this particular rumor, the South Korean diplomat admitted that he personally found the story "completely incredible." End note.) In eyebrow-raising contrast to the GOP's official condemnation of DPRK activities, however, Sunday's edition of "The Nation" carried a photo of an October 14 gathering hosted by the "Pakistan-Korea Friendship Association" in which DPRK Ambassador Ri and GOP State Minister for Information and PML-Q insider Tariq Azim were the guests of honor. According to our South Korean colleague, representatives from his country were not/not included in the event. CROCKER