EU TROIKA VISIT TO DPRK

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003519 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA, EAP, ISN E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2017 TAGS: KNNP PHUM EAID EU EUN KN SUBJECT: EU TROIKA VISIT TO DPRK REF: A. STATE 164429 ¶B. BEIJING 7490 Classified By: A/Deputy PolCouns Vincent Carver for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: European Commission and Council officials emphasized that EU engagement with DPRK would proceed on a cautions track governed by North Korea's progress in meeting its six-party commitments. During a EU troika delegation trip to Pyongyang to encourage progress on denuclearization, DPRK Foreign Ministry officials told EU officials they would fulfill their obligations on an "action for action" basis and asked for EU intervention in helping to moderate "hostile" U.S. policies targeted against the DPRK. End Summary. ¶2. (C) In response to reftel A points, Commission Deputy Head of Unit for Korea Jonathan Hatwell and Council Korea officer Stefan Rab, both members of the December 11-13 EU delegation to Pyongyang, emphasized that the EU would proceed cautiously in its relations with DPRK. Hatwell said that the EU message to their North Korean interlocutors was clear. If DPRK fulfills its second phase obligations, launches the third phase "and its meaningful continuation is certain," then the EU would be open to "enhancing" relations and considering the possibility of granting development assistance. The EU side was deliberately ambiguous about the definition of enhanced relations beyond assistance and perhaps some higher level engagement. Asked about future visits and plans for engagement, Hatwell noted that the Slovenians are prepared to lead another troika visit under their EU Presidency if the DPRK shows signs of either substantial progress or backsliding in the coming months. The European Commission is also considering holding an economic seminar with the North Koreans in 2008, similar to one held in October, 2007. ¶3. (C) Hatwell provided a briefing on the troika visit in line with reftel B. The delegation spent two-thirds of its time discussing nuclear issues, but also broached regional stability, human rights, economic and social issues, and EU-DPRK relations. The broader EU message was one of general encouragement: the EU will continue to follow developments on the peninsula closely, sees some positive developments in the six-party context, strongly encourages DPRK to fulfill its denuclearization commitments, and will consider mechanisms for enhancing relations if DPRK makes meaningful progress on meeting its obligations. ¶4. (C) According to Hatwell, their DPRK Foreign Ministry interlocutors said that they would meet their six-party commitments on an "action for action" basis. Negotiations on the nuclear declaration were proceeding, but the North Koreans offered no firm commitment on the timing of its completion. DPRK MFA officials emphasized the great importance they attach to their relations with the EU and encouraged the EU to "use its influence with the United States" to intercede on the North Koreans' behalf and encourage the U.S. to "abandon its hostile policies." Hatwell noted that their MFA contacts frequently raised the "hostility" of the United States, and to a lesser extent, that of Japan, as justification for DPRK's need for a nuclear program. They further argued that they would be more amenable to engaging in a dialogue on human rights only if the EU tempered its "confrontational" stance and stopped introducing human rights resolutions targeted against the DPRK. MURRAY .