RESPONSE RECEIVED: IRANIAN PROCUREMENT OF

S E C R E T SEOUL 004166 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2056 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC KS IR SUBJECT: RESPONSE RECEIVED: IRANIAN PROCUREMENT OF POTASSIUM BIFLOURIDE FROM YOLIN TECH REF: STATE 187236 Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (S) Park, Chul-min, Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT)s Disarmament and Nonproliferation Division provided a response to reftel demarche after consulting with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Energy (MOCIE) and the Korean National Intelligence Service (KNIS). Director Park said that all the points in the non-paper delivered were accurate. The Director of the company Yolin Tech, found to be nothing more than a one-man front company, has already been arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced to eight months imprisonment, two years probation, and 80 hours of community service for document falsification. Director Park said that the company director would not serve any time in prison, but complete only the 80 hours of community service. In terms of guaranteeing full prosecution in such matters, Park said that all the ROKG could do is to "enhance public awareness of the issue." ¶2. (S) Comment. We are dissapointed with this response from the Koreans. We plan on raising this issue with more senior officials in MOFAT. We would appreciate it if the Department can provide more information on this case. End Comment. VERSHBOW