UAE: NORTH KOREA POINTS DELIVERED

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 000547 E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2019 TAGS: PREL EFIN ETTC KNNP PARM KN AE SUBJECT: UAE: NORTH KOREA POINTS DELIVERED REF: STATE 48525 AND PREVIOUS Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) Pol Chief discussed reftel points on North Korea with Acting Director of MFA's Office of International Organizations Mohammed al-Absi on May 31, stressing the dangers of dealing with designated North Korean entities intent on pursuing programs contrary to the goals of UNSCR 1718. Al-Absi agreed with the concerns and noted that UAE interaction with North Korea was negligible. He said UNSCR-related information was carefully coordinated with financial and other authorities involved in enforcement and endeavored to submit the non-paper for review. ¶2. (S) While he did not categorically deny any interaction with Tanchon Commercial Bank or KOMID, al-Absi was certain that prior decisions on Tanchon had not been reversed and did not think it was active here. He did not engage in details when Pol Chief raised concerns of a KOMID representative having visited the UAE and a UAE military officer having visited North Korea last year. (Note: The only reply to those approaches so far was a diplomatic note stating that the North Korean traveler was not on a black list and therefore had not been prevented from entering the UAE. End note.) Pol Chief emphasized again the importance of strict enforcement of UNSCRs to limit North Korean missile development and related threats to the international community. ¶3. (S) On June 1, UAE Central Bank Head of Anti-Money Laundering and Suspicious Cases Unit Abdulrahim Al Awadi again told EconChief that Tanchon Commercial Bank assets had been frozen. He said he would review the status of the related accounts and provide an update. OLSON