CONCERNS REGARDING DELIVERY OF SHIPS TO IRISL

S E C R E T SEOUL 001746 SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/CPI JENNIFER CHALMERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2023 TAGS: PARM PREL KNNP EFIN PINR IR CH KS SUBJECT: CONCERNS REGARDING DELIVERY OF SHIPS TO IRISL REF: STATE 90303 Classified By: Acting EcounCouns, Gregory S. Burton. Reasons: 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (S) Acting EconCouns met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials on September 02 to urge their government's help in preventing the delivery of additional ROK-built vessels to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. Sang Soo Lee of the Disarmament and Nonprliferation Division and Sung-hwan Lee of the Middle East Division received the demarche. Upon hearing the content they determined that the action office would be the Middle Eastern Division. Their rationale for this decision was that the request does not fall squarely within the bounds of the existing UN Security Council Resolutions. ¶2. (S) Sung-hwan Lee asked for one additional clarification. He wanted to be sure that the purchase was directly by IRISL rather than through an intermediary. He stressed this would be crucial information for determining the best approach to Hanjin Heavy Industries. Post will follow up with MOFAT with the answer and use the opportunity to determine what steps have been taken or planned by the ROKG. VERSHBOW