Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09UNVIEVIENNA292
2009-06-22 12:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
UNVIE
Cable title:  

IAEA/DPRK/BOARD OF GOVERNORS: BROAD CONDEMNATION

Tags:  AORC IAEA KN KNNP 
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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1675
C O N F I D E N T I A L UNVIE VIENNA 000292 

SIPDIS

ISN FOR MAHAFFEY AND RANA, IO FOR DETEMPLE, EAP FOR JOHNSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2034
TAGS: AORC IAEA KN KNNP
SUBJECT: IAEA/DPRK/BOARD OF GOVERNORS: BROAD CONDEMNATION
OF NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR TEST

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES GEOFFREY PYATT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND
(D)

-------
Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L UNVIE VIENNA 000292

SIPDIS

ISN FOR MAHAFFEY AND RANA, IO FOR DETEMPLE, EAP FOR JOHNSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2034
TAGS: AORC IAEA KN KNNP
SUBJECT: IAEA/DPRK/BOARD OF GOVERNORS: BROAD CONDEMNATION
OF NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR TEST

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES GEOFFREY PYATT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND
(D)

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) The IAEA June Board of Governors registered
universal condemnation and deep concern regarding the DPRK's
nuclear test. Fourteen statements (representing 22 of 35
Board members) were delivered under the Agenda item on the
Application of Safeguards in the DPRK: Six party partners,
the EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines,
Argentina, Uruguay, Switzerland, Cuba, and South Africa and
the Republic of Korea and Indonesia under Rule 50. Speaking
first on the issue, China strongly supported UNSCR 1874 as
demonstrating firm opposition to the DPRK's actions while
supporting a diplomatic solution. At the same time, Russia
and China cautioned against actions that might aggravate the
situation. All interventions expressed strong support for
the Six Party framework and urged North Korea to return to
dialogue and to the NPT and IAEA Safeguards. Russia and
South Africa also called on North Korea to adhere to the CTBT
while the Philippines urged North Korea to refrain from any
further nuclear tests.


2. (SBU) Director General ElBaradei set the tone in his
introductory remarks to the June Board expressing great
concern and deep regret that this test comes at a time when
the prospects for progress on nuclear disarmament are "far
better than they have been at any time in the recent past."
The Philippines seconded the DG's remarks about disarmament,
and Cuba took the opportunity to highlight the lack of
progress on disarmament by nuclear weapons states. The DG
indicated he will not be in a position to report on North
Korea at the next Board meeting given the likelihood that the
IAEA will not have had additional access. End Summary.

--------------
DG: Nuclear Test is a Wrong Step
In the Wrong Direction
--------------


3. (SBU) In his introductory remarks, the Director General
recalled that the IAEA had been asked to leave North Korea on
April 16. North Korea required the IAEA remove all
containment and surveillance equipment and ceased all

cooperation with the IAEA. The DG expressed his great
concern at the news of a second nuclear test. The DG further
regretted that the test came at a time when the prospects for
progress on nuclear disarmament are "far better than they
have been at any time in the recent past." "This is a wrong
step in the wrong direction," the DG said about the test,
which he said created an environment of confrontation. The
DG called on all parties to continue to work for a
comprehensive solution through diplomatic means that would
bring the DPRK back to the NPT and address its security
concerns, humanitarian needs, and other political and
economic requirements.


4. (SBU) At the end of the Iran Agenda item, the Director
General again took the floor and made a few remarks on the
DPRK, indicating that he will not be in a position to report
on the situation in the DPRK at the next Board meeting due to
the lack of IAEA access, and that any updates would have to
come from Member States involved in dialogue with DPRK. We
will consult with the Secretariat prior to the September
Board meeting, but expect North Korea may be dropped from the
agenda. Privately, Japan took exception to the DG's remarks
on DPRK at the conclusion of the Iran item in which he
supported forward-looking dialogue, inferring that we should
not look backward as to who broke what commitment in the past.

--------------
Six Parties Call on DPRK to Return
To Dialogue
--------------


5. (SBU) Six Party members represented on the Board (China,
Russia, Japan, and the U.S.) and South Korea (under Rule 50),
called on DPRK to honor its commitments and return to the Six
Party Talks. The Six Parties strongly supported UNSCR 1874,
with China noting that it demonstrates firm opposition to

North Korea's actions and support for a diplomatic solution
to the DPRK nuclear issue. Russia called on the DPRK to
"react correctly" to the resolution by shelving its nuclear
weapons and ballistic missile programs. Russia further
called on DPRK to return to the NPT and to IAEA safeguards,
as well as to comply with the CTBT. Japan condemned "in the
strongest terms" the nuclear test, calling it a grave threat
to Japan's security and to peace in Northeast Asia, and urged
North Korea to take seriously UNSCR 1874. South Korea
welcomed UNSCR 1874 and condemned North Korea's actions in
the "strongest terms."


6. (SBU) China's statement was tough at the outset,
registering firm opposition to North Korea's actions in
disregard of the international community. China and Japan
stated that North Korea impaired the effectiveness of the
nonproliferation regime and violated UN Security Council
resolutions. Russia seconded this, describing the nuclear
test as a "serious blow" to international efforts to
strengthen the nonproliferation regime. Reverting to form,
China called on Member States to remain calm and take no
action to aggravate the situation in a way that would not
serve common interests. China also noted that DPRK's
sovereignty must be respected. Russia also hoped that all
relevant parties would refrain from any action that would
further exacerbate the situation.


7. (SBU) The Six Parties present expressed support for the
IAEA's efforts in monitoring the shutdown and verification
work at Yongbyon. Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. hoped
that the IAEA would play an important role in verification in
North Korea. Russia recalled the important role the IAEA had
played up to this point.


8. (SBU) Japan joined the U.S. in regretting the DPRK's
announcement that it will start reprocessing the spent fuel,
weaponize plutonium, and commence uranium enrichment.

--------------
Broad Condemnation of Nuclear Test
--------------


9. (SBU) In addition to the Six Parties, there was broad
condemnation of the nuclear test, including on the part of
the EU, Argentina, New Zealand (calling it a provocative and
destabilizing act),the Philippines, Australia, Uruguay,
Switzerland, South Africa, and Indonesia under Rule 50.
Canada condemned the nuclear test as an "irresponsible and
provocative gesture" that damages the nonproliferation
regime. The Philippines, seconded by Switzerland, noted
that the test adversely affected "the positive momentum
achieved in the field of disarmament." The Philippines also
urged North Korea to not conduct any more nuclear tests.
South Africa called on North Korea to comply with the CTBT.
Under its Iran statement, Mexico also expressed condemnation
for DPRK's nuclear test.

--------------
Welcoming UNSCR 1874
--------------


10. (SBU) Canada, the EU, Argentina, Australia, Switzerland,
South Africa, and Uruguay also welcomed UNSCR 1874, with
Canada and Australia calling it a "firm and unified response."

--------------
Reaffirmed Support for Six Party Talks
--------------


11. (SBU) Canada, New Zealand, the Philippines, Australia,
Switzerland, and Indonesia under Rule 50 urged North Korea to
shut down its nuclear facilities and resume cooperation with
the IAEA. There was universal support for the Six Party
Talks and for resuming dialogue for a peaceful resolution.
Canada called on North Korea to live up to its obligations as
outlined in the 2005 Six Party Talks Joint Statement and the
October 2007 Second Phase Actions. Cuba also hoped for the
denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

--------------
Cuba Highlights Need for Total Disarmament
--------------


12. (SBU) Cuba took the opportunity to call for the total
elimination of all nuclear weapons, highlighting the lack of
progress by nuclear weapons states to this end. Cuba
appealed to NWS to fulfill their obligations under Article VI
of the NPT, recalling the 1995 and 2000 NPT Revcons calling
for the elimination of nuclear weapons.

--------------
U.S. Statement on North Korea
--------------


13. (SBU) Begin text of the U.S. statement on DPRK as
delivered at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting:

Madam Chairwoman,

Since the last IAEA Board of Governors Meeting in early
March, North Korea has undertaken a number of provocative
actions that have threatened international peace and
security, undermined the international non-proliferation
regime, and only deepened North Korea's isolation from the
international community. North Korea's April 5 test of a
Taepodong-2 missile and its May 25 nuclear test were serious
and unacceptable acts that violated UN Security Council
Resolution 1718. Furthermore, the United States condemns the
DPRK's decision to expel IAEA monitors and U.S. observers
from its Yongbyon nuclear facility in mid-April.

In response to these provocative acts, on June 12, the UN
Security Council unanimously adopted UN Security Council
Resolution 1874, which sent a clear message that North
Korea's continuing provocative behavior is unacceptable, that
its violation of a binding UN Security Council resolution has
serious consequences, and that the international community is
determined to deliver a strong and unified response. UNSCR
1874 demands that North Korea not conduct any additional
nuclear tests or launches using ballistic missile technology.
It also requires the DPRK to abandon all nuclear weapons and
existing nuclear programs and to act in accordance with the
obligations of parties to the NPT and IAEA Safeguards
Agreements, and calls upon North Korea return to the
Six-Party Talks without preconditions. The new measures
under this resolution include a total ban on arms exports and
a major expansion of the ban on arms imports, new financial
measures designed to limit the ability of the DPRK to fund
WMD and ballistic-mis
sile related activities, and enhanced inspection provisions
for suspected transfers of proscribed cargo.

The United States calls on North Korea to return without
conditions to a process of peaceful dialogue and to honor its
previous commitments to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula as
required by the new resolution.

On June 13, the North Korean Foreign Ministry responded to
the adoption of UNSC Resolution 1874 by announcing that
plutonium extracted from the spent fuel reportedly being
reprocessed at the Yongbyon nuclear facility would be
weaponized. Such actions would violate the clear decision in
UNSCR 1874 that the DPRK shall "abandon all nuclear weapons
and existing nuclear programs in a complete, verifiable and
irreversible manner, and immediately cease all related
activities." It would also violate the decision that the DPRK
shall act strictly in accordance with the obligations
applicable to NPT parties and the terms and conditions of its
IAEA Safeguards Agreement and the decision that it shall
provide to the IAEA transparency measures extending beyond
these requirements. The statement also announced that North
Korea would begin "uranium enrichment work" to generate
nuclear fuel for a light water reactor that it would build
itself, an action that would further violate UNSCR 1874.

As a result of North Korea's actions, the international
community has reached an important moment for the security of
Northeast Asia. In the interest of international peace and
security, and the global nonproliferation regime, we hope
that North Korea will choose the path of diplomacy rather
than confrontation. The United States remains open to
dialogue but has also made it clear that North Korea will not
find international acceptance unless it abandons its pursuit
of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

The United States is consulting with our allies and partners

in Asia, especially those who have worked in recent years
through the Six-Party Talks to ensure a denuclearized North
Korea. President Obama and Secretary Clinton have been
working closely with leaders in China, Russia, Japan, and
South Korea, and on the United Nations Security Council to
emphasize the importance of the international community
conveying a strong, unified response to Pyongyang.

We continue to feel strongly that the IAEA should play an
important role in the DPRK's denuclearization, including in
verification and dismantlement activities. We believe such a
role for the Agency is in the best interest of all parties,
including the DPRK.

We remain committed to the September 2005 Joint Statement
from the Six-Party Talks, the core goal of which is the
verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through
peaceful means. We believe it is in North Korea's own best
interests to return to serious negotiations to pursue this
goal. The United States position remains unchanged: we will
not accept North Korea as a nuclear weapons state.

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
PYATT