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


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End Cable Text