PRC/DPRK: CHINESE MFA ON UNSC RESOLUTION RE DPRK

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001398


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2019
TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP MOPS KN KS CH
SUBJECT: PRC/DPRK: CHINESE MFA ON UNSC RESOLUTION RE DPRK
NUCLEAR TEST

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson.
Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) China wanted any UN Security Council resolution
responding to the DPRK's May 25 nuclear test to be measured,
be made in the interest of peace and stability on the Korean
Peninsula, and support the denuclearization of the Peninsula
and the Six-Party Talks, MFA North American Affairs DG Zheng
Zeguang told A/DCM May 26. Zheng welcomed a U.S. team to
Beijing to discuss the international response to the test.
Separately, MFA International Organizations and Conferences
Department Deputy Director General Li Junhua told U.S.,
British and French Embassy representatives that North Korea's
May 25 nuclear test had been a complete "surprise" to
Beijing. China had told the DPRK May 25 that its nuclear
test was a violation of UNSC Resolution 1718 and had
destabilized the Korean Peninsula. Li said Beijing was open
to toughening the existing sanctions regime but stressed that
any action taken by the Security Council should facilitate
denuclearization and should not harm the North Korean people
or affect humanitarian assistance. Li signaled Chinese
reluctance to add individual DPRK leaders to the sanctions
list or add language that would mandate the interdiction of
suspected shipments. Li said the DPRK's May 25-26
short-range missile launches were not prohibited by UNSCR
1718 and therefore not legally subject to the sanctions
regime. End Summary.


2. (C) In a May 25 meeting at the MFA with A/DCM, North
American and Oceanian Affairs Department Director General
Zheng Zeguang expressed appreciation for our close
cooperation and coordination on all things DPRK. Zheng said
that he had listened in on last night's phone call from the
Secretary to Foreign Minister Yang in Hanoi and had read a
transcript of the Deputy Secretary's conversation with Vice
Foreign Minister He Yafei. Zheng reiterated PRC desire that
a UN Security Council resolution aimed at the DPRK be
measured, be made in the interest of peace and stability on
the Korean Peninsula, and support the denuclearization of the
Peninsula and the Six-Party Talks. Noting that the Secretary
had told FM Yang that the U.S. intended to dispatch a team to
Japan, the ROK and China to discuss next steps, Zheng
indicated that China would welcome such a team and asked us
to relay any logistics information about the team's plans and
make-up as soon as possible.

China Conveys Strong Dismay and Opposition to DPRK
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3. (C) MFA International Organizations and Conferences Deputy
Director General Li Junhua told PolOff, British Political
Counselor Peter Wilson, and French Political Counselor
Bernard Lelarge on the evening of May 26 that North Korea's
nuclear test on May 25 had been a "surprise." The DPRK
government had informed the PRC Embassy in Pyongyang a mere
25 minutes before the actual nuclear test. Pyongyang had
earlier threatened to conduct a second nuclear test, but
Beijing, like the rest of the international community, had
not expected a test to happen so suddenly, said Li.


4. (C) Acting Foreign Minister Wang Guangya had summoned the
DPRK Ambassador to the MFA on May 25 and conveyed China's
strong dismay and opposition to North Korea's nuclear test,
said Li. Wang told the DPRK Ambassador that the nuclear test
was a clear violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1718
and had destabilized the Korean Peninsula. China asked North
Korea to recommit to the Six-Party Talks and to the goal of
denuclearization, reported Li.

UNSC Resolution: "Everything is Possible"...
--------------


5. (C) When asked if China would support toughening the
existing sanctions regime, Li replied that "everything is
possible." North Korea's nuclear test was "cause for further
sanctions," and "most members want to see tough measures," he
added. Japan was in the process of drafting a resolution for
discussion by the Security Council, and Beijing was prepared
to have substantive discussion in New York regarding Tokyo's
proposed language. Li requested details from Washington
regarding the additional measures or sanctions that the
United States would be interested in pursuing in Security
Council discussions. PolOff agreed to convey the request to
Washington.


6. (C) Wilson and PolOff stressed the importance of UN
Security Council unity in its reaction to the North Korean
nuclear test and of making clear to Pyongyang that there were
consequences to its actions. Regarding the timing of the
UNSC resolution, Li said he expected a decision to be made
quickly but emphasized that it was important not to sacrifice
conciseness for speed. The Chinese government would need to
consult all agencies, including the military, before
supporting any resolution, said Li. It would not be an easy
thing to support a resolution against China's neighbor, he
added.

...With a Few Exceptions
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7. (C) DDG Li noted that Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi had
told Secretary Clinton earlier in the day that any signals
sent by the UN Security Council should be aimed at
facilitating denuclearization, maintaining the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and protecting the peace and
security of the Korean Peninsula. Any Security Council
action should be clearly defined so that it did not harm the
North Korean people or affect humanitarian assistance to the
DPRK, stressed Li. The international community had to bear
in mind that North Korea wanted indirect or direct
recognition of its nuclear status. The Security Council
action, in whatever form it ultimately took, should
facilitate denuclearization and not run counter to this
objective, he said.


8. (C) Li said that during previous discussions on UNSC
Resolutions 1695 and 1718, there had been proposals to
include individual North Korean leaders on the sanctions
list. This could be a political hurdle, he warned. Asked
about Seoul's announcement that it would join the
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI),Li responded that
PSI was extremely "sensitive" to Beijing. China would not
support language in a resolution that would mandate naval
interdiction of suspected shipments, as this might trigger
unexpected confrontations in China's coastal areas.

DPRK Next Steps?
--------------


9. (C) China hoped North Korea would make a public
recommitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,
Li said, noting that he was not optimistic that this would be
possible anytime soon. Beijing, which did not have any
additional information from Pyongyang about further tests,
said the Chinese government would not be surprised if North
Korea conducted additional nuclear or missile tests. The
Six-Party Talks would likely be shelved for a few months,
predicted Li.

Missiles
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10. (C) DDG Li said that the short-range missiles the DPRK
launched May 25 and 26 were not prohibited under UN Security
Council Resolution 1718 and therefore not subject, legally
speaking, to the sanctions regime.


PICCUTA