FRANCE PROMISES VIGILANCE TOWARD KOMID AND OTHER

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 007178 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016 TAGS: PARM FR MNUC KNNP KN SUBJECT: FRANCE PROMISES VIGILANCE TOWARD KOMID AND OTHER NORTH KOREAN PROLIFERATORS REF: A. STATE 180512 ¶B. STATE 179472 Classified By: Acting DCM Josiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) This is an action message; see paragraph 3. Poloff called November 2 upon Arnaud Mentre, desk officer for non-proliferation in the MFA's bureau of strategic affairs, to deliver demarche (reftel A). Mentre said France is aware of the Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation (KOMID) and its track record as a "notorious proliferator." Mentre said that although KOMID is not known to have engaged in the transfer or purchase of arms or technology within France or the European Union, the GoF has given all French airports a list of all known North Korean proliferators and it will soon pass a similar list to all sea ports. ¶2. (C) Mentre said the GoF is concerned that North Korea might be using vessels registered in Mongolia to transfer technology and arms. The French Embassy in Ulaanbataar recently demarched the Mongolian MFA, telling them the French believed that Mongolia was not being sufficiently vigilant in preventing North Korean proliferation. The Mongolia MFA said they would study the situation, and Mentre said French diplomats left with the impression that the Mongolians were in fact sincere. ¶3. (C) Mentre said the MFA continues to review Under Secretary Joseph's proposal to use the Proliferation Security SIPDIS Initiative (PSI) as a mechanism to prevent tranfer of arms and technologies in support of the North Korean weapons program (reftel B). He added that the MFA is particularly interested in the idea that North Korea could be refueling outside territorial waters to avoid detection of vessels engaged in prohibited activities. Mentre said the GoF is committed to insuring that North Korea cannot circumvent UNSC 1718 in this manner. ACTION REQUEST: Mentre said the MFA would be grateful if the U.S. could provide any information on instances when North Korean vessels have refueled outside territorial waters, whether near France or elsewhere. Action Request: Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON