PAKISTAN IMPLEMENTING UN SANCTIONS ON DPRK, BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 001465 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2019 TAGS: KNNP PREL PTER PGOV MNUC PARM EFIN PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN IMPLEMENTING UN SANCTIONS ON DPRK, BUT WAITING FOR CLARIFICATION ON ADDITIONAL ENTITIES REF: A. SECSTATE 65483 ¶B. SECSTATE 66250 Classified By: Anne W. Patterson for reasons 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. In response to reftel demarches supporting implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions on the DPRK, Kamran Akhtar, Disarmament Director at Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told PolOff on June 30 that Pakistan has issued a Statutory Regulatory Order to apply UNSCR 1718 sanctions and is in the process of formulating a second SRO to cover UNSCR 1874 sanctions. Akhtar asked whether paragraph 24 of the resolution, which "Decides to adjust the measures imposed by paragraph 8 of resolution 1718," means that there have been or will be adjustments to the Missile Technology Control Regime, Nuclear Suppliers Group and other control lists. Akhtar said Pakistan is waiting to see if the UN sanctions committee will release information on additional entities subject to sanctions under UNSCR 1874 before finalizing the SRO. End Summary. ¶2. (C) PolOff delivered reftel points and nonpapers on UNSC sanctions on the DPRK to MFA Disarmament Director Kamran Akhtar on June 30. Akhtar stated that Pakistan has issued a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) that provides the legal basis for implementing UNSCR 1718 sanctions, including entities named by the UN sanctions committee after the recent DPRK missile test, and is in the process of formulating a second SRO to apply UNSCR 1874 sanctions. Before issuing the new SRO, he indicated, the GOP is waiting to see if the UN sanctions committee will name additional entities subject to sanction. In the meantime, the MFA will send letters to the relevant ministries and other organizations involved to alert them to the UNSCR 1874 sanctions and the forthcoming SRO, he said. ¶3. (C) Akhtar sought clarification on whether UNSCR 1874 modified any of the control lists that had formed the basis of proscribed trade in UNSCR 1718. He asked whether paragraph 24 of the resolution, which "Decides to adjust the measures imposed by paragraph 8 of resolution 1718," means that there have been or will be adjustments to the Missile Technology Control Regime, Nuclear Suppliers Group and other control lists. PolOff pledged to relay his query to Washington. ¶4. (C) Responding to a question on the overall effect of the sanctions in Pakistan, Akhtar said there is "practically no trade" between Pakistan and DPRK, but anything potentially subject to sanctions will receive a case-by-case review by the GOP. On the UNSCR 1874 requirement to deny bunkering services, Akhtar said he would look into whether Pakistan provides such services and alert the relevant ministries if this appears to be an issue. ¶5. (C) Akhtar thanked the USG for the additional information on DPRK involvement in illicit financial activities and pledged to review the reftel nonpaper. He said he was not familiar with DPRK banks operating in Pakistan, but the GOP would be vigilant to any suspicious activities. He reiterated that under Pakistani law, it is a simple process to translate UNSC resolutions into action, and thus the GOP is waiting for the UN sanctions committee to identify additional entities subject to financial and other sanctions before taking additional steps. PATTERSON