YEMENI DELEGATION MARCH 2008 VISIT TO MEET WITH

S E C R E T STATE 043685 E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2033 TAGS: PARM MTCRE PREL KN YM SUBJECT: YEMENI DELEGATION MARCH 2008 VISIT TO MEET WITH NORTH KOREA'S KOMID (S) Classified By: NEA DAS GORDON GRAY for Reasons 1.4 (B),(C) AND (D). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Embassy Sanaa, please see paragraph four. ¶2. (S) Background: The USG has information that in early March 2008, a Yemeni delegation was planning to travel to North Korea to meet with representatives from the Korea Mining Development Corporation (KOMID) - North Korea's primary weapons trading firm. KOMID has been repeatedly sanctioned by the U.S. for its missile trading activities, most recently in September 2007. We do not know if the travel took place, but we are concerned that such travel to North Korea to meet with KOMID officials could signal renewed missile-related cooperation between Yemen and North Korea. Such action would be of particular concern given that in August 2002, the USG waived penalties that otherwise would have been required under the U.S. missile sanctions law against Yemeni entities for engaging in missile-related cooperation with North Korea. These sanctions were waived in view of a Yemeni government commitment that Yemen would not import from any source, including North Korea, missiles or missile-related material. ¶3. (S) Objective: Given the significant potential missile proliferation concerns attendant to Yemeni interaction with KOMID, the USG would like to raise this matter with the Yemeni government, remind Yemeni officials of the ROYG's missile nonproliferation commitments, and seek confirmation the Government of Yemen has no plans to engage in missile-related cooperation with DPRK entities. ¶4. (S) Action Request: Request Embassy Sanaa approach appropriate Yemeni officials to deliver talking points/non-paper in paragraph five below and report response. Talking points also may be provided as a non-paper. ¶5. (S) Begin talking points/non-paper: End talking points/non-paper (SECRET REL YEMEN) -- We would like to raise with you a matter of potential proliferation concern. -- The U.S. has information that a Yemeni delegation was planning to travel to North Korea in early March 2008, to meet with representatives from North Korea's primary weapons trading firm, the Korea Mining Development Corporation (KOMID). -- KOMID is an entity of significant proliferation concern sanctioned multiple times by the United States, most recently in September 2007, for its missile-related trading activities. -- We are concerned that such travel to North Korea to meet with KOMID could signal renewed missile- related cooperation between Yemen and North Korea. -- You will recall that in August 2002, the United States waived penalties against Yemeni entities for engaging in missile-related cooperation with North Korea based on certain nonproliferation commitments from your government. -- These commitments included a commitment that Yemen would not import from any source, including North Korea, missiles or missile-related material. -- In addition, any missile-related purchases from North Korea resulting from this trip or others would likely be inconsistent with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718. -- We therefore would appreciate any clarification you can provide regarding this matter, and your confirmation that your government has no plans to engage in missile-related cooperation with DPRK entities. -- We look forward to continuing cooperation on nonproliferation matters. End talking points/non-paper ¶6. (U) Washington POC is ISN/MTR April Jones (Phone: 202-647-3176). Please slug any reporting on this issue for ISN/MTR and EAP. ¶7. (U) A word version file of this document will be posted at www.state.sgov.gov/demarche. RICE NNNN End Cable Text