IAEA/DPRK: NORTH KOREAN INTEREST IN RADIATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L UNVIE VIENNA 000345 SIPDIS ISN FOR GROMOLL AND MAHAFFEY, IO FOR DETEMPLE, EAP FOR JOHNSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2034 TAGS: AORC IAEA KN KNNP SUBJECT: IAEA/DPRK: NORTH KOREAN INTEREST IN RADIATION DETECTION EQUIPMENT AT IAEA-SPONSORED SYMPOSIUM Classified By: CDA GEOFFREY PYATT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) During a meeting on July 16, Canadian Msnoffs reported that a North Korean official had approached a Canadian uranium mining company at the International Symposium on Uranium Raw Material for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle, an IAEA-sponsored event held in Vienna June 22-26, 2009. A South Korean MsnOff at the same Meeting reported that he had observed the North Korean official, alternate PermRep to the UN Han Won-Chong, at the Canadian firm's information booth at the symposium. Han had approached the booth while it was empty and declined assistance from the Canadian firm's representative when the Canadian returned to the booth to find the North Korean browsing. The South Korean MsnOff noted that Han acquired brochures for three types of radiation detection devices: a device installed on aircraft to locate uranium deposits, a handheld radiation detection device, and a vertical device of the type used to detect radiation at ports and borders. According to our Canadian colleague, the technology of interest has been in use for many years and was not the most sophisticated available. ¶2. (C) South Korean and Canadian MsnOffs believed that North Korea's interest in this equipment indicated long-term, strategic interest in further development of its nuclear programs. Comment: Mission notes that while North Korea could be seeking this technology for internal use, Pyongyang may also be interested in increasing its understanding of international detection capabilities. PYATT