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