MOSCOW'S REACTION TO THE DPRK NUCLEAR TEST

S E C R E T MOSCOW 011317 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2016 TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP UNSC KN RS SUBJECT: MOSCOW'S REACTION TO THE DPRK NUCLEAR TEST REF: A. STATE 168337 ¶B. MOSCOW 11169 ¶C. MOSCOW 11280 Classified By: DCM Daniel A. Russell. Reasons 1.4 (b/d/h). ¶1. (S) The Ambassador met twice with Deputy Foreign Minister Alekseyev on October 9 to discuss North Korea's nuclear test and next steps. Alekseyev said that Russia takes extremely seriously the test and Russia agrees that strong measures are warranted. Alekseyev handed over a statement (text below) on the nuclear test that the Russian Government had just issued. This is the approach that Putin looks forward to discussing later today with the President. Alekseyev underlined that he was calling in the North Korean Ambassador to express concern and the Chinese Ambassador to coordinate positions. Alekseyev underlined that Russia understood the need for action in New York, but did not elaborate on what form exactly that should take. Foreign Minister Lavrov planned to review options with Secretary Rice in their telephone conversation late today. ¶2. (SBU) Informal translation of October 9 statement by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Disregarding the unified will of the international community, which is interested in the non-nuclear status of the Korean peninsula, a "successful underground nuclear test" was announced today in Pyongyang. Russia has repeatedly expressed the opinion that such a step, whatever its motivation, can only sharpen problems already existing on the Korean peninsula, creating a threat to peace, security, and stability in the region, and undercutting the nuclear non-proliferation regime. We demand that the DPRK immediately takes all steps to return to the NNPT and the renewal of the Six-Party talks. That will be our position at the UN Security Council. The Russian MFA calls on all affected countries in the current, complicated circumstances to demonstrate restraint. We are conducting a careful analysis of the situation and close consultations with many interested countries. End informal translation BURNS