POST FOLLOWS UP ONGOING MISSILE PROLIFERATION

S E C R E T BEIJING 006957 DEPT FOR ISN, T AND EAP E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2027 TAGS: PARM PREL CH KN IR SUBJECT: POST FOLLOWS UP ONGOING MISSILE PROLIFERATION MATTER RAISED AT APEC BY PRESIDENT BUSH REF: A. STATE 152317 ¶B. BEIJING 6848 ¶C. STATE 148514 Classified By: Political Regional Affairs Unit Chief Mark Tesone. Reas ons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (S) Poloff delivered ref A message informing China of an imminent shipment of ballistic missile parts from North Korea to Iran via a Beijing-bound Iran Air flight to MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Department Missile Division Deputy Director Wang Daxue on November 3. ¶2. (S) Recalling Post's October 25 message concerning this shipment (Ref B and C),Wang said China continues to investigate this transfer but welcomes the additional information. When pressed for an update on the Chinese investigation, Wang would only say that Beijing is not yet prepared to share information on its investigation at this time. Noting that Presidents Bush and Hu discussed this proliferaton concern at APEC, Poloff told Wang that Post would be seeking an appointment next week at a higher level to discuss this issue further Randt