(S) SINGAPORE AGREES TO HELP ON DPRK

S E C R E T SINGAPORE 000356 E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2019 TAGS: EFIN ETTC KNNP IR PREL PARM XF LE KN SN SUBJECT: (S) SINGAPORE AGREES TO HELP ON DPRK PROLIFERATION-RELATED TRANSACTION REF: STATE 36855 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel L. Shields for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) MFA Second Permanent Secretary Bilahari Kausikan told the CDA April 15 that Singapore will help with regard to a possible upcoming proliferation-related transaction involving the DPRK at Singapore's Changi airport (see reftel). Kausikan complained, however, that the USG had not been fully forthcoming in Washington regarding what Singapore considers an important fact: that the cash to be transferred in the airport represents payment for a dual-use item. The CDA responded that the USG has been consistently clear on what the payment was for. He added that it is in Singapore's interest to prevent its territory from being used for proliferation-related business. Kausikan expressed agreement and asked that the USG provide ASAP through appropriate channels any additional information it can to help Singapore identify Alex H.T. Tsai, the Taiwanese citizen involved in the transaction. CDA passed Kausikan's request to the relevant USG office, which is following up through its channels. ¶2. (S) Earlier the same day, Econoff met with Lynette Long, Deputy Director of MFA's International Organizations Directorate, to present reftel talking points and urge the GOS to take steps to disrupt the transaction. Long noted that Singapore had received the same USG message via Charge d'Affaires Ong at its embassy in Washington and had passed it to relevant GOS agencies. ¶3. (S) Long said MFA's lawyers were trying to work out Singapore's jurisdiction over a transaction taking place in the airport transit area and what legal means the GOS would have to arrest either individual. She suggested the issue was complicated by the fact that the money would likely stay within the transit area and not enter Singapore territory and might not, therefore, be subject to its anti-money laundering laws. Nevertheless, Long said that operational authorities were aware of the details of the case and were monitoring the situation. She asked for any additional operational information that could be provided, in particular flight numbers and any descriptive details that could help identify the two men. Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm SHIELDS