AIR KORYO FLIGHT: THANKING TURKEY, CENTRAL ASIAN

S E C R E T STATE 056778


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2033
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC

SUBJECT: AIR KORYO FLIGHT: THANKING TURKEY, CENTRAL ASIAN
STATES FOR THEIR COOPERATION

REF: A. STATE 43804

B. ASTANA 849

C. ANKARA 780

D. ASHGABAT 520

E. BISHKEK 41

Classified By: ISN Acting Assistant Secretary
Patricia A. McNerney, Reasons 1.4 b, c, and d


1. (S//REL Recipients) ACTION REQUEST: Posts are requested
to approach appropriate-level host nation officials and thank
them for their cooperation regarding an Air Koryo flight that
was scheduled to transit Central Asian and Turkish airspace
en route from North Korea to Syria. The aircraft was to
transport a possible cargo of missile-related items from
North Korea to Syria. (REF A). Posts may draw from
background, objectives, and talking points/non-paper below as
appropriate.

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OBJECTIVES
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2. (S//REL Recipients) Posts should seek to:

-- Thank host nations for their cooperation, particularly on
short notice.

-- Encourage host nations to continue their cooperation with
us on possible flights of proliferation concern.

-- Urge host nations to remain vigilant for similar
overflight requests in the future.

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BACKGROUND
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3. (S//REL Recipients) Since February, Washington has been
tracking an Air Koryo charter flight, which has been
rescheduled multiple times, from Pyongyang, North Korea to
Damascus, Syria. The flight appears to be intended to
transport missile-related items from North Korea to Syria.
Thanks to cooperative efforts from PSI partner nations in
Central Asia, as well as Turkey's standing policy of
requiring suspect flights to land for inspection, this flight
has been continually delayed.

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TALKING POINTS/NON-PAPER:
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4. (S//REL Recipients) Begin talking points/non-paper:

-- We would like to thank you for your cooperation regarding
a recent Air Koryo flight of proliferation concern that was
scheduled to transit your airspace.

-- According to our information, thanks to your efforts the
flight had to be canceled, and the shipment did not take
place.

-- We believe that your cooperation in this matter has led to
a successful outcome. This is exactly the type of
cooperation we seek to foster in accordance with the
Proliferation Security Initiative.

-- We would like to ask for your continued support regarding
flights of this nature and urge you to be vigilant for any
similar overflight requests in the future.

END POINTS.


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POINT OF CONTACT AND REPORTING REQUIREMENT
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5. (U) Washington point of contact for follow-up is Mark
Felipe, ISN/CPI, (202) 647-5376, felipem2@state.sgov.gov.


6. (U) Please report delivery of points and any immediate
response by 5 June.


7. (U) Washington thanks posts for assistance. Please slug
responses for EUR, ISN, SCA, and T.
RICE


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