DPRK NUCLEAR TEST RESOLUTION: DEMARCHE DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 011488 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2016 TAGS: PREL PARM MNUC KNNP UNSC KN RS SUBJECT: DPRK NUCLEAR TEST RESOLUTION: DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: STATE 171117 Classified By: POL M/C Alice G. Wells. Reasons: 1.4(B/D). ¶1. (C) We delivered reftel demarche October 12 to MFA First Asia Department Senior Counselor Oleg Davydov, who advises DFM Alekseyev on North Korean issues. Davydov said that his superiors will "mull" over the draft resolution to assess what had been changed from earlier drafts and the Russian government's reaction will be provided in New York. ¶2. (C) The Japanese Embassy told us that before departing for Beijing today, Alekseyev expressed concern over two resolution elements in a conversation with the Japanese Ambassador -- financial sanctions and inspection of North Korean ships. Alekseyev supported strong measures against the DPRK and was not opposed to financial sanctions in principle, but warned that Russia lacked a legal framework to freeze proliferation-related assets. Alekseyev also said that Russia would be reluctant to support an operative paragraph on cargo/ship inspection and will demand more detailed information from the U.S. ¶3. (C) The Japanese also learned that Alekseyev will "try" to arrange a 2-3 hour stopover in Pyongyang before going on to Seoul from Beijing. ¶4. (C) The Japanese Embassy attributes the further toughening of the GOR reaction to the DPRK test to the unexpectedly strong Chinese reaction. They believe the GOR will follow Beijing's lead in the UNSC, and are concerned that the visit of PRC State Counselor Tang Jiaxuan to Washington and Moscow will be used as a delaying tactic by China in the Security Council. RUSSELL