MONGOLIAN PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER DESCRIBES TIES WITH NORTH

UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000479

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/CM, EAP/PM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI ECON MG KN KS
SUBJECT: MONGOLIAN PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER DESCRIBES TIES WITH NORTH
KOREA

Ref: Ulaanbaatar 0435


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Tsogtbaatar Damdin (protect),Foreign Policy
Advisor (FPA) to Mongolia's President, shed light August 21 on his
country's relationship with North Korea. Joined by officials from
the MFA, Tsogtbaatar told USG officials that Mongolia is trying to
reduce North Korea's sense of isolation. He said this engagement
becomes impossible when North Korea takes actions that threaten the
security of other countries. Tsogtbaatar also indicated that
Mongolia favors the idea of turning the Six-Party talks into a
Northeast Asian regional forum, adding that it has approached China
with this idea, with favorable results. Separately, a Mongolian
Lieutenant General informed the USG that he and other Mongolian
military officials have been invited to visit North Korea. It
remains unclear whether such a visit will occur; the last one at
that level occurred prior to 1990. END SUMMARY..


2. (SBU) Mongolian presidential advisor Tsogtbaatar told DCM, E/P
chief and visiting U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Senior Professional
staff member Luse August 21 that Mongolia's interaction with North
Korea is aimed at helping that country avoid feeling isolated.
During a 90-minute luncheon conversation covering this and other
subjects, Tsogtbaatar said: "We've been there and we know how
important it is not to be alone. We try to engage North Korea, to
help it not feel isolated." He added, however, that this engagement
has its limits. In an apparent reference to Pyongyang's missile
tests and nuclear maneuvering, he said: "When North Korea takes
action that jeopardizes everybody's security, there is no
compromise. We cannot support them."


3. (SBU) Tsogtbaatar, educated in Russia and Australia, said the
Government of North Korea complains to Mongolia that the Mongolians,
their "friends," criticize North Korea at international forums.
Said Tsogtbaatar: "We say, 'It's an open democracy. We can't shut
the mouths of our Parliamentarians.' North Korea will have to
accept us the way we are."


4. (SBU) Regarding Six-Party talks, Tsogtbaatar said Mongolia seeks
to create an environment conducive to a positive solution, partly by
making the North Koreans realize that others care about their
welfare. He added that the Mongolian leadership supports the idea
of turning the Six-Party talks into a Northeast Asian regional
forum. He added: "We've sounded out China on that, and they
support us on that." (Note: Tsogtbaatar's comments track with reftel
report of the July visit by DPRK Speaker Kim Yong Nam.)


5. (SBU) Separately, Embassy Ulaanbaatar's DAO office quotes
Mongolian Lieutenant General Togoo as saying that he and other
Mongolian military officials have been invited to visit North Korea.
(Note: It is unclear whether such a visit will be realized; the
last one at this level occurred prior to 1990. End Note.)