Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRASILIA667
2009-05-26 20:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Brasilia
Cable title:  

BRAZIL POSTPONES OPENING PYONGYANG EMBASSY OVER

Tags:  PREL PARM MNUC MCAP KN BR ZN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3286
RR RUEHRG
DE RUEHBR #0667 1462017
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 262017Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4380
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 7519
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0403
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 6220
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 7750
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0401
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0943
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0157
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0972
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 9580
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 7784
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 4111
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0304
UNCLAS BRASILIA 000667 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PARM MNUC MCAP KN BR ZN
SUBJECT: BRAZIL POSTPONES OPENING PYONGYANG EMBASSY OVER
NUCLEAR TEST

REF: A. 08 BRASILIA 1486

B. 08 BRASILIA 1559

C. BRAZILIA 657

UNCLAS BRASILIA 000667

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PARM MNUC MCAP KN BR ZN
SUBJECT: BRAZIL POSTPONES OPENING PYONGYANG EMBASSY OVER
NUCLEAR TEST

REF: A. 08 BRASILIA 1486

B. 08 BRASILIA 1559

C. BRAZILIA 657


1. (U) Summary. In response to the May 25 DPRK nuclear
test, Brazil is indefinitely postponing sending its
Ambassador-designate to Pyongyang to open the Brazilian
embassy (reftels). The Ministry of External Relations (MRE)
issued an uncharacteristically strong note in which it
"vehemently condemns" the test, states that it violates UNSCR
1718, calls on the DPRK to observe a strict test moratorium,
and appeals to all members of the six-party talks to avoid
taking any aggravating steps. End summary.


2. (U) According to media reports citing MRE sources,
Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim ordered Brazil,s
Ambassador-designate Arnaldo Carrilho not travel to Pyongyang
until further notice because of Brazil,s displeasure over
the DPRK nuclear test on May 25. There was no official
statement from the MRE about the delay, and press reports
said Carrilho is in Beijing making final preparations to go
to Pyongyang to open Brazil,s embassy during the week of May

25. Brazil decided last year to open an embassy in
Pyongyang; North Korea has had an embassy in Brasilia since
at least 2004. High level contacts are rare and trade
between the two countries is minimal, although the DPRK
foreign minister met with FM Amorim in Brasilia on May 8
(septel).

3. (U) The text of the MRE press release (unofficial Embassy
translation):
(Begin text.)
Note 238, May 25, 2009
North Korean Nuclear Test
The Brazilian government vehemently condemns the nuclear test
carried out by the People,s Republic of Korea, today, May

25. The test violates Resolution 1718, adopted by the United
Nations Security Council on October 14, 2006. Brazil
expresses its hopes that the DPRK will rejoin, as quickly as
possible and as a non-nuclear armed country, the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty.
In the same manner, the government of Brazil calls on the
DPRK to sign, in the shortest term possible, the
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and to observe strictly the
nuclear test moratorium. Brazil hopes, also, that the DPRK
will return, in a constructive spirit, to the Six-Party
Talks, aimed at the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,
and appeals to all parties to abstain from acts that could
aggravate tensions in regional and global contexts. (End).


4. (SBU) Comment. Brazil has been cautiously and gradually
upgrading its relations with the DPRK (reftels),and the
unusually strong MRE response suggests the nuclear test has
stopped Brazil in its tracks. Given Brazil,s repeated
public and private avowals of respect for UN and especially
UNSC decisions, Brazil now has no practical alternative --
despite its inclination to avoid controversial stands -- but
to suspend further development of its relationship with the
DPRK.
KUBISKE