MALAYSIA UPDATE ON DPRK VESSEL BONG HOA SAN

S E C R E T KUALA LUMPUR 002019 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2026 TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC EWWT XC KN MY SUBJECT: MALAYSIA UPDATE ON DPRK VESSEL BONG HOA SAN REF: A. STATE 179243 ¶B. STATE 179928 ¶C. KUALA LUMPUR 2012 ¶D. REED-SHEAR EMAIL OF 10/30/06 Classified By: DCM DAVID B. SHEAR, REASONS 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (S) Summary: After Post conducted follow up demarches with Malaysia's Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister's Department, the GOM informed us it had issued an instruction October 30 to board and inspect the Bong Hoa San if the vessel called at Malaysia's Port Klang, as indicated by information from Singapore. Authorities in Port Klang reportedly have no docking request from the North Korean vessel. Malaysia dispatched an aircraft to locate the vessel, but poor visibility prevented a sighting as of late afternoon October 30. End Summary. ¶2. (S) Following delivery on October 27 of ref A demarche regarding the Bong Hoa San, DCM followed up with Foreign Ministry Acting Under Secretary for the Americas Azlan Man on Sunday, October 29, and again on October 30 and reinforced ref A and B requests to the GOM. ¶3. (S) On October 30, Polcouns also delivered ref A and B demarches to Abdul Rahim Hussin, Maritime Security Policy Director, National Security Division (NSD),Prime Minister's Department. In addition, we shared with Hussin information received from Embassy Singapore regarding the North Korean vessel's reported plan to call at Malaysia's Port Klang later on October 30, per radio communication between the vessel and the Singapore Port Authority (ref D). We noted that Malaysia had inspected this same vessel in the past according to information available at Post. Hussin stated that, in his view, Malaysia should carry out an inspection of the vessel using the rationale of maritime safety, considering that the vessel did not employ an Automated Identification Signal (AIS). The inspection could provide Malaysian authorities with a means to gather intelligence regarding the vessel, to include crew, shipping certificates and possible cargo. Subsequently, Hussin's deputy, Commander Azahar, informed Polcouns that the NSD had issued an instruction to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA, Malaysia's coast guard),Customs and the Port Authority at Port Klang to board and inspect the Bong Hoa San if or when it called at Port Klang. (Note: We have no further indication or confirmation that the Bong Hoa San intends to dock at Port Klang, and port authorities there reportedly have no request from the North Korean vessel. End Note.) ¶4. (S) Separately, DAO contacts confirmed October 30 that the Malaysian Air Force dispatched an aircraft to attempt to sight and track the North Korean vessel. Poor visibility due to weather conditions and lack of sophisticated technology, however, had thwarted the Malaysian Air Force mission, which had not sighted the Bong Hoa San as of late afternoon October ¶30. DAO has remained in frequent contact with Malaysian defense and maritime security agencies concerning the Bong Hoa San. LAFLEUR