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