PRC/DPRK: VFM HE YAFEI DISCUSSES SIX-PARTY TALKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001024 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2019 TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP OVIP KS CH SUBJECT: PRC/DPRK: VFM HE YAFEI DISCUSSES SIX-PARTY TALKS WITH STAFFDEL JANNUZI Classified By: Acting POLITICAL Minister Counselor Ben Moeling. Reason s 1.4 (b/d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) North Korea has not shut the door to the United States or to Six-Party Talks, Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei told Staffdel Jannuzi April 16. VFM He downplayed the possibility of a DPRK nuclear test, urged the United States to "keep talking" with the North Koreans and praised U.S.-China cooperation on the UNSC Presidential Statement. He said Japan's proposal for the DPRK Sanctions Committee to designate three additional entities was "not helpful." End Summary. DPRK Will Come Back to Six-Party Talks -------------- ¶2. (C) During an April 16 meeting with Senior East Asia Advisor for the Democratic staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Frank Jannuzi, VFM He Yafei said a careful reading of North Korea's statement condemning the UNSC Presidential Statement showed that the DPRK "has not shut the door to the United States or to Six-Party Talks." He argued that North Korea's response to the UN Security Council (UNSC) Presidential Statement was predictable, noting that North Korea had threatened to pull out of Six-Party Talks regardless of the action taken by the UNSC. He predicted Six-Party Talks would "be in recess for a few months" but that North Korea had to come back eventually. "The DPRK cannot stay in the shadows forever," VFM He stated. He said a high-level Chinese delegation currently in North Korea had been treated "as if nothing happened," arguing that such treatment was a sign that North Korea knew and appreciated China's efforts to avoid a UNSC resolution condemning the DPRK. China Opposes Japan's Push for Additional Designations -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) VFM He said Japan's push for the DPRK Sanctions Committee to designate three additional entities was "not helpful" and largely "for domestic consumption." Calling the next steps in the UNSC "critical," VFM He said the DPRK Sanctions Committee should approve designations "without creating the impression that we are adding new sanctions." He stressed the need to remain "cool-headed" and argued that North Korea was not seriously considering another nuclear test and would not carry out such a test "unless nobody engages with them and they see no way out." North Korea understood a nuclear test would trigger a strong response that would hurt North Korea, he said. China Urges U.S.-DPRK Talks, Praises U.S.-China Cooperation -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) VFM He urged the United States to "keep talking" with the DPRK and praised the low-key U.S. approach to dealing with the DPRK launch. He pointed out that North Korea called U.S. officials prior to issuing the statement condemning UNSC action, a "clear sign" that North Korea wants direct engagement with the United States and eventual normalization of relations. Pointing to the "good momentum" in U.S. relations with Iran, VFM He suggested the United States adopt a similar approach to the DPRK. He lauded the good cooperation between the United States and China on the UNSC Presidential Statement and stressed the need for continued close cooperation. "We share the same objective - denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula - and that will not change," VFM He said. ¶5. (U) The delegation did not clear this cable. WEINSTEIN