ROK SUSPECTS DPRK SHIP TRANSPORTS ARMS TO IRAN

S E C R E T SEOUL 002396 SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/CATR E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018 TAGS: PARM PREL IR KS SUBJECT: ROK SUSPECTS DPRK SHIP TRANSPORTS ARMS TO IRAN Classified By: Joseph Y. Yun for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4. ¶2. (S) Summary. Jae-woo Kim of the Disarmament and Nonproliferation Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) told poloff on December 15 that the ROKG received information on December 14 that the North Korean vessel Seo-heung I was carrying arms bound for Iran. Kim, who declined to reveal the source or how the ROKG obtained the information, asked the USG to verify the information. If the information is correct, Kim inquired are there possible actions that the USG might take? End Summary. ¶3. (S) Jae-woo Kim requested a meeting with poloff to share the following information that he received on December 14. Kim did not reveal the source or how the ROKG obtained the information. -- The North Korean vessel, the Seo-heung I which departed Nampo, DPRK on November 8, was heading to an unknown port in Iran with a shipment of arms and other (unspecified) related material. -- The vessel, which Kim said was currently near Pakistan, is owned by Kang-Sung Trading Corporation which is under the umbrella of the North Korean People's Armed Forces. Kim did not know under which flag the ship is registered. -- Kim's source told him about the ship's call in Burma, at which it loaded 500 tons of rice. -- Kim's source said that the ship was prepared for violent resistance in the event of an attempted on-board inspection. ¶4. (S) Kim asked if the USG could answer the following questions. -- Has the USG received similar reports about the cargo and destination? -- What is the vessel's registration, identifying code recognized by the IMO, and real ownership? -- Is the Kang-Sung Trading Corporation sanctioned under the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA) or any other executive order? -- If the information is correct, what actions, if any, would the USG take? -- Does the U.S. have any information on ROK citizens or entities that are involved with the vessel? ¶5. (U) We would appreciate any information we can forward to MOFAT on this case. STEPHENS