AUSTRIA VERY CONCERNED WITH POSSIBLE NORTH KOREAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 002968 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/AGS, EAP, AND ISN E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2016 TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP KN AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIA VERY CONCERNED WITH POSSIBLE NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR TEST REF: STATE 166404 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Scott F. Kilner for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On October 4, Ambassador met with Johannes Kyrle, the MFA's Secretary General, and Nikolaus Scherk, Director of the MFA's Asia Division, to present reftel concerns regarding a possible North Korean nuclear test. The Ambassador thanked the GoA for working with Austrian banks and the Treasury Department earlier this year to eliminate North Korean access to Austria's banking system. Noting the DPRK's relatively large Embassy in Vienna, the Ambassador urged the GoA to relay its concerns via this channel. The USG would appreciate Austrian support for a UNSC Presidential Statement calling on North Korea not to conduct a nuclear test. Should the DPRK carry out a test of a nuclear weapon, the Ambassador asked the GoA to support a firm response, including UN sanctions. ¶2. (C) Kyrle said that the October 2 EU Presidency Statement reflected the GoA's position on this issue. Austria was very concerned about the prospect of a nuclear test, urging the DPRK to return immediately to the Six Party Talks. The North Korean nuclear issue would figure prominently on the agenda of the next EU Foreign Ministers' meeting. ¶3. (C) Scherk said that North Korea has voiced its desire to improve relations with Austria. However, the GoA has consistently told North Korean officials that the DPRK must first resolve all outstanding "nuclear issues." Scherk added that the GoA has told the DPRK that it "cannot choose its EU partners," rather it must deal with the EU as an entity. ¶4. (C) Scherk said that a North Korean MFA Vice-Minister was going to visit Vinna in the near future. According to Scherk, th South Korean Government has told the GoA it supports GoA-DPRK contacts. McCaw