ROKG WELCOMES NEWS OF KHAN NETWORK SANCTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000061 SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO CAROLINE RUSSELL AND CHRIS HERRINGTON, ISN/CPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2019 TAGS: KNNP MNUC GM PREL PARM EFIN KS KN SUBJECT: ROKG WELCOMES NEWS OF KHAN NETWORK SANCTIONS REF: STATE 02508 Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4(b/d) ¶1. (C) Per reftel instructions, poloff on January 13 notified ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) Disarmament and Nonproliferation Division Deputy Director Lee Sang-soo of the decision to impose sanctions on individuals and companies associated with the former A. Q. Khan network. Deputy Director Lee expressed pleasure and appreciation in response to the news and asked why it had taken so long to make the sanctions decision. Poloff explained that the case was very complex and that it had taken four years to properly assemble and evaluate all available information. STEPHENS