NETHERLANDS/DPRK: DUTCH WILLING TO CONSIDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001986 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2017 TAGS: PHUM PREL NL UN KN SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/DPRK: DUTCH WILLING TO CONSIDER FUNDING RADIO BROADCASTS TO NORTH KOREA Classified By: Andrew Schofer, Political Counselor, for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On November 5, 2007, Deputy Special Envoy for Human Rights in North Korea, Christian Whiton, briefed Dutch MFA officials on U.S. plans to promote human rights in North Korea, particularly through funding for independent radio broadcasting. The Dutch agreed to consider funding for such programs in the context of the Netherlands' new human rights fund and other policy objectives. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Mr. Adriaan Palm, Head of the East Asia and Oceania Department, Mr. Gerbrand Visser, Korea Desk, and Mr. Joris Geeven, Human Rights policy officer offered the following comments in response to Mr. Whiton: -- U.S. proposal: The Dutch will consider supporting independent radio broadcasts by examining the idea under the lens of Dutch policy on Korea and human rights, and budget limits. Palm noted that efforts to promote human rights can't be completely separated from progress in the six-party talks, and from economic issues. China's interest in Korean stability and getting access to Korean resources may lead it to support a more open North Korea, although China does not want a united, economically powerful Korea. Tough sanctions and aid that only support "survival" won't prompt reform in Korea. Economic exchanges, where the west shows Koreans they have something to learn, may help engage and open the regime. An economic development program is probably the more likely fit for Dutch policy. Visser noted that any broadcast program should consider the large cultural gap between North and South Koreans -- the authoritarian regime's controls have even atrophied the North Koreans' vocabulary, making it hard for them to understand western ideas. Geeven cautioned that while the Dutch like media diversity programs, the programs they offer are small. Any new initiative will need to fit within FM Verhagen's new human rights strategy, announced November 7. -- UN Third Committee action: Geeven noted that the EU resolution on North Korea was tabled November 2. The text is good, and South Korea supports it thanks to lobbying by South Korean NGOs. -- Dutch Visits to Asia: Palm will visit North Korea the week of November 12. In two weeks, Geeven and Dutch Human Right Ambassador Hamburger will visit Beijing, where they will raise concerns about the plight of North Korean refugees. (U) This message was cleared by Mr. Whiton. Arnall