(S) MILITARY-RELATED GOODS FROM DPRK TO IRAN VIA

S E C R E T STATE 148514 E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2017 TAGS: PARM PREL KNNP ETTC EWWT KN CH SUBJECT: (S) MILITARY-RELATED GOODS FROM DPRK TO IRAN VIA CHINA Classified By: EAP A/AS Glyn Davies, Reasons 1.4 (b),(c),and (d) ¶1. (S) ACTION REQUEST: Post is requested to approach appropriate Chinese officials and deliver talking points below regarding a shipment of military-related goods from North Korea to Iran via Beijing, China. Post should draw from background and objectives below as appropriate. Post is requested to coordinate their activities with the country team. -------------- OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶2. (S) As appropriate Post should draw upon the background and talking points to pursue the following objectives: -- Express our appreciation for China's attention to issues of proliferation concern. -- Using cleared points in paras 4-6 below, provide information to Chinese officials regarding the details of the air shipment and its proliferation implications. -- Urge Chinese officials to investigate the imminent shipment of military-related goods from DPRK to Iran via Beijing, and to halt the transshipment from Beijing. -- Draw Chinese officials, attention to provisions of UN Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 1737 including: -- Paragraph 8(b) of UNSCR 1718 which requires North Korea to cease the export of and all member states to prohibit the procurement of items contained in 8(a)(i) including missiles or missile systems and related materiel, including spare parts and 8(a)(ii) which includes the missile-related items in S/2006/815. -- Paragraph 8(f),which calls on member states to take steps to ensure compliance with the UNSCR, including in accordance with their national authorities and legislation, and consistent with international law, cooperative action, including through inspection of cargo to and from the DPRK as necessary. -- Paragraphs 3 and 4 of UNSCR 1737, pursuant to which States are required to take measures to prevent the supply, sale or transfer to Iran of listed items, including certain missile components, as well as any item a State determines would contribute to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems. -- Paragraph 12, which requires UN Member States to prevent "funds, financial assets or economic resources" from being made available to or for the benefit of entities designated under that resolution. -- We look forward to continued cooperation on nonproliferation issues and to hearing the results of China,s inquiries into this matter. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶3. (S) The U.S. has information that North Korea plans to send a shipment of military-related goods intended for Iran,s Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group (SBIG),which is responsible for Iran,s solid-propellant ballistic missile program. Our information indicates that the shipment will be sent 25 October on North Korean Air Koryo flight JS-251 from Pyongyang, North Korea, to Beijing, China and then on Iran Air flight IR-801 from Beijing to Tehran, Iran. SBIG is designated in United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1737 and, as such, is subject to the mandatory asset freeze called for in the resolution, as well as the requirement that States ensure that &any funds, financial assets or economic resources are prevented from being made available by their nationals or by any persons or entities within their territories, to or for the benefit8 of designated entities. We would like Chinese officials to investigate and prevent this shipment from proceeding to Iran. -------------- TALKING POINTS -------------- ¶4. (S/REL CHINA) In the spirit of our nonproliferation cooperation, we would like to inform you that we have received information that North Korea plans to send a shipment, probably for Iran,s ballistic missile program, to Iran on 25 October 2007. We believe the cargo is intended for Iran,s Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group (SBIG),which is responsible for Iran,s solid-propellant ballistic missile program. Our information indicates that the shipment will be sent 25 October on North Korean Air Koryo flight JS-251 from Pyongyang, North Korea, to Beijing, China and then on Iran Air flight IR-801 from Beijing to Tehran, Iran. ¶5. (S/REL CHINA) Our information further indicates that the air waybill number is 120-0021 6764 dated 19 October, the shipment has a gross weight of 996 kg and will include 25 packages of machine spare parts. The shipper is North Korea,s primary weapons trading firm, the Korea Mining Development Corporation (KOMID). The consignee is Mr. Tavakoli of the Mehre Company, which is the Mehr Engineering and Industrial Group, associated with the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group (SBIG). ¶6. (S/REL CHINA) If these goods are missile-related, North Korea is prohibited under UNSCR 1718 from exporting missile-related items and UN Member States are prohibited from importing those items. In addition, both North Korea and China would be potentially be precluded under UNSCR 1737 from transferring these items to Iran if they are among the missile-related components included in S/2006/815 or if North Korea or China determines that they would contribute to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems. Moreover, SBIG is designated in United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1737 and, as such, is subject to the mandatory asset freeze called for in the resolution. With these concerns in mind we are asking that Chinese authorities investigate this shipment and prohibit it from proceeding to Iran. End Points. -------------- REPORTING REQUIREMENT AND POC -------------- ¶7. (U) Please report delivery of cable and any immediate response by October 26, 2007. ¶8. (U) Washington point of contact for follow-up information is Edna Sidler, (202) 647-5347, sidlerej@state.sgov.gov. Please slug all responses for ISN, T, and EAP. Washington appreciates Post,s assistance. RICE