NO FURTHER DIALOGUE WITH NORTH KOREA, SAYS FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L LILONGWE 000238 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/S GABRIELLE MALLORY STATE FOR INR/AA E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2011 TAGS: PGOV KDEM MI KN SUBJECT: NO FURTHER DIALOGUE WITH NORTH KOREA, SAYS FOREIGN MINISTER REF: A. LILONGWE 32 ¶B. LILONGWE 47 Classified By: Political Officer Tyler Sparks for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (C) The GOM, "has decided that there will be no further dialogue with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in connection with the proposed economic cooperation," according to a letter to Ambassador Eastham dated February 16, from Minister of Foreign Affairs Davies Katsonga. The letter offers a debrief on the January visit (reftels) by a North Korean delegation, ostensibly to discuss DPRK-funded development projects in Malawi. Katsonga confirmed the information reported in reftels, and stated his view that the real reason for the trip centered around the DPRK trying to solicit international support for its regime. ¶2. (C) As reported in reftels, Katsonga informed Ambassador Eastham on January 12 that a delegation from North Korea's embassy in Pretoria had made an uninvited visit to Malawi. The two-man delegation was led by a Mr. Ri Il Nam, Minister at the embassy in South Africa, and was allegedly aimed at establishing "development projects in various sectors in Malawi, including irrigation, agriculture, healthcare and small scale hydro-electric power." However, it quickly became apparent to the GOM that the DPRK essentially had nothing to give, and instead was looking for support itself. ¶3. (C) According to Katsonga, "it was evident that (the DPRK) is trying to market its human resource, especially medical doctors, as well as solicit international support in the wake of mounting pressure due to that country's military adventures." ¶4. (C) Katsonga stated (confirming what we had been told by MFA officials previously, reftel B),that Malawi has decided to "shelve active links" with the DPRK. We were previously told that dealing with North Korea is simply not in the best interests of the GOM, especially when the DPRK doesn't have anything to put on the table. Post will report on any further developments. EASTHAM