S E C R E T STATE 034278

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2028
TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP KN XB XG ZK ZL XD XF
SUBJECT: (S) UPDATED SCHEDULE OF FLIGHT OF PROLIFERATION
CONCERN FROM NORTH KOREA TO SYRIA: REQUEST TO CONDITION
OVERFLIGHT

REF: A. STATE 013637

B. STATE 010930

C. ANKARA 438

D. ASTANA 238

Classified By: ISN PDAS Patricia A. McNerney for reasons 1.4 b and d.

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SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST
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1. (S/Rel China, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan,
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan)
Posts are instructed to immediately approach appropriate host
government officials to alert them to a rescheduling of this
flight from March 11 (Ref A) to April 11 and request that
they continue to make approval of over flight requests
contingent on full inspection of the aircraft and its cargo.
Posts should also reiterate the request that host government
officials detain, in accordance with national law and
consistent with international law, any suspicious cargo for
further investigation to ensure it is not being transferred
in violation of UNSCR 1718 or could otherwise contribute to a
program of proliferation concern in Syria. Posts should
thank host government officials for their cooperation and
diligence regarding our earlier requests (Refs A and B).
Posts should provide non-paper in para 6 and draw on
background as necessary.


2. (S/Rel Turkey) Post should thank GOT officials for
conditioning a March 2008 Air Koryo flight clearance request
to transit Turkish territory upon the landing/inspection of
the aircraft (Ref C). Post should congratulate Turkey,s
actions and encourage them to stay the course regarding any
future Air Koryo overflight requests.


3. (S/Rel Kazakhstan) Post should thank Kazakhstan officials
for denying a February 2008 overflight request for clearance
of the DPRK to Syria flight to transit Kazakhstani territory
(Ref D). Post should congratulate Kazakhstan,s actions and
encourage them to stay the course regarding any future Air

Koryo overflight requests. End Summary and Action Request.

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OBJECTIVES
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4. (S) Posts are requested to pursue the following
objectives:

-- Approach host government officials and alert them to a
schedule change to an upcoming Air Koryo charter flight from
March 11 to April 11.

-- Remind host government that we continue to believe that
this flight may be carrying missile-related cargo in
violation of UNSCR 1718.

-- Remind host government that UNSCR 1718, in order to ensure
compliance with the measures imposed in that resolution,
calls upon Member States to take, 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 to
prevent the transfer to or procurement from North Korea of
certain military goods, WMD components or delivery systems.

-- Remind host government that Syria and North Korea have a
history of cooperating with each other on missile-related
projects, and have transferred missile-related goods to one
another before.

-- Indicate that this is not a regularly scheduled flight and
that future overflight requests of this nature should be
carefully considered.

-- Reiterate our request that host government provide
over-flight clearance contingent on full inspection of the
aircraft and its cargo.

-- Reiterate our request that host government grant any
requested fuel stop by this flight and prepare to inspect the
cargo immediately upon landing.

-- Request host government to detain any suspicious cargo, in
accordance with national law and consistent with
international law, for further investigation to ensure it is
not being transferred in violation of UNSCR 1718 or could
otherwise contribute to a program of proliferation concern in
Syria.

-- Request that host government officials report back with
any information that they find regarding this flight.

-- Thank host government for its cooperation.

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BACKGROUND
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5. (S/Rel China, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan,
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan)
Since February Washington has been tracking an Air Koryo
charter flight from Pyongyang, North Korea to Damascus,
Syria. Washington is concerned that this flight may be
intended to carry cargo in violation of UNSCR 1718. In
February and March, this flight was rescheduled and
Washington believes that this is due to actions taken as a
result of previous demarches on this subject. Washington
believes that continued diplomatic efforts will further deter
this flight.

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NON-PAPER
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6. (S/Rel China, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan,
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan)


-- We recently brought to your attention a North
Korean-origin flight of serious proliferation concern that
may request over flight of your territory as it transits to
and from Syria. This flight may be carrying material in
violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution
(UNSCR) 1718.

-- We would like to provide you with updated information
regarding this flight.

-- North Korea,s Civil Aviation Authority, Air Koryo,
rescheduled this flight again and it is now scheduled to
depart Pyongyang, North Korea, for Damascus, Syria, with a
stop in Tehran, Iran, on April 11 2008. Flight JS-621 which
would use a North Korean registered Il-62 aircraft, has been
rescheduled to depart Pyongyang (ZKKK) on 0001Z on April 11
and arrive at Tehran (OIII) at 0940Z on April 11. The flight
is scheduled to depart Tehran at 1140Z on 11 April and arrive
at Damascus (OSDI) at 1420Z.

-- The return flight, JS-622, was rescheduled to depart
Damascus at 0900Z 14 April and to arrive in Tehran at 1130Z.
The flight is scheduled to depart Tehran at 1330Z on 14 April
and arrive at Pyongyang at 2220Z.

-- We request that you provide over flight clearance
contingent only upon full inspection of the aircraft and
cargo and grant any requested fueling stop by this aircraft
and prepare to inspect the cargo immediately upon its landing.

End non-paper.

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POINT OF CONTACT
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7. (U) Washington point of contact for follow-up information
is Matthew Zartman, (202) 647-7588, zartmanml@state.sgov.gov.
Please slug all responses for ISN, T, EAP, and NEA.
Washington appreciates Post,s assistance.
RICE


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