DPRK RESOLUTION: MOFA HIGHLIGHTS ARMS EMBARGO,

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001248 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2019 TAGS: PREL JA KN SUBJECT: DPRK RESOLUTION: MOFA HIGHLIGHTS ARMS EMBARGO, ASSET FREEZES, UN DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Mike Meserve, reasons 1.4 ( b),(d). ¶1. (C) MOFA UN Policy Division Director Naoto Hisajima requested a meeting with Poloff June 3 to convey Japan's position on a proposed UNSC resolution on the DPRK. Referring to a non-paper which he said has already been provided to the State Department in Washington and to the U.S. Mission in New York, Hisajima made the following three points: -- Japan is seeking to include reference to a specific list in the proposed language on an arms embargo. Hisajima stressed that a list of banned items is necessary to ensure uniform interpretation and prevent "less enthusiastic" countries from permitting the export of prohibited weapons to the DPRK. Japan is "not happy" about Chinese and Russian efforts to continue to allow the export of small arms, but can "live with it" as long as the list is clearly defined. -- With respect to financial measures, Japan prefers asset freezes to prohibiting financial institutions from holding accounts. Asset freezes, Hisajima explained, are more effective, since they prevent financial institutions from simply returning funds already held to the DPRK. -- Japan believes UN agencies must be included in the proposed prohibition on entering into new commitments for humanitarian and development assistance. Current proposed language limits the exclusion to international financial institutions. Hisajima contrasted the situation in the DPRK with that in Iran, which he described as far more developed economically and thus less dependent on UN agencies. ¶2. (C) Acknowledging that cargo inspections and other issues are also very important, Hisajima was careful to note that he was consciously avoiding use of the term "priorities" in his discussion of these three points. He insisted that his goal in meeting with the Embassy and passing the non-paper was merely to "reinforce" the discussion taking place in informal bilateral consultations in New York. He stressed that MOFA was "more involved" than usual in the drafting of this particular resolution, and was hoping for another P5 2 (Japan and Korea) meeting on June 3. ZUMWALT