UNSCR 1874 DEMARCHE REQUEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 000614 E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM KN SN SUBJECT: UNSCR 1874 DEMARCHE REQUEST REF: SECSTATE 66749 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel Shields for Reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) In response to reftel instructions, CDA delivered the points for ASEAN governments to Singapore MFA Second Permanent Secretary Bilahari Kausikan. CDA and Kausikan had two discussions on June 29, one in the morning, the other in the afternoon. In the afternoon discussion, Kausikan said he now understands the North Korean ship Kang Nam 1 has turned around and is headed in a northeast direction. He said he has seen a report that Burma made it clear it did not wish to receive the ship. With Burma not receiving the ship, given fuel constraints the vessel had to reverse course now, he said. ¶2. (C) For the record, in the morning discussion Kausikan welcomed the USG outreach to Burma on the issue of third party involvement in any possible Burmese inspection of the North Korean ship, but indicated that Singapore is not planning to approach Burma to express support. Singapore views Thailand, the ASEAN chair, as the appropriate ASEAN government to make the determination on whether to approach Burma on the issue. The Thai are circulating a draft ASEAN statement supporting UNSCR 1874, although it appears unlikely that there will be ASEAN consensus in support of such a statement. CDA urged that Singapore conduct an inspection according to its national laws if Kang Nam 1 enters Singapore's port. Kausikan said he did not expect Kang Nam 1 to enter Singapore's port, but if it did, Singapore would inspect the ship. Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm SHIELDS NNNN End Cable Text