IAEA/DPRK: DG REPORT SUMMARIZING IAEA ACTIVITY

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000377 SENSITIVE SIPDIS ISN FOR GROMOLL AND MAHAFFEY, IO FOR DETEMPLE, EAP FOR JOHNSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC IAEA KN KNNP SUBJECT: IAEA/DPRK: DG REPORT SUMMARIZING IAEA ACTIVITY SINCE SEPTEMBER 2008 WILL FRAME DPRK DISCUSSIONS AT UPCOMING BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND GENERAL CONFERENCE REF: FERNANDEZ-MAHAFFEY E-MAIL (7/27/09) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Director General released his annual report on Application of Safeguards in the DPRK (GOV/2009/45-GC(53)/13) ahead of the September 2009 Board meeting and General Conference. The DPRK disallowed implementation of the ad hoc monitoring and verification arrangement in the DPRK on April 15, 2009 and the DG notes that as a result, the IAEA cannot currently provide any conclusion regarding the DPRK's nuclear activities. North Korea remains a nuclear verification agenda item for the upcoming Board of Governors meeting, although we expect the DG to have few if any additional comments on North Korea since his inspectors have no presence or interaction with DPRK. The DPRK "Core Group," a Vienna-based group of like-minded states chaired by Canada, has begun work on drafting the annual DPRK resolution for the September 14-19 General Conference. Reftel text has been sent to ISN/RA, IO/T, and EAP for review. End Summary. -------------- DG Report on North Korea -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Director General released his annual report on Application of Safeguards in the DPRK (GOV/2009/45-GC(53)/13) on July 30 ahead of the September Board meeting and General Conference (sent to ISN/RA and EAP). The report reviews the Agency's ad hoc monitoring and verification of the shutdown of facilities at Yongbyon and Taechon, including the brief cessation of cooperation with the Agency in September-October 2008, and the eventual DPRK request for the Agency inspectors to leave North Korea. As a result of that request, the Agency ceased the implementation of the ad hoc monitoring and verification arrangement in the DPRK on April 15, and the DG notes that the IAEA cannot currently provide any conclusion regarding the DPRK's nuclear activities. The Director General expressed concern and deep regret at the news of a second nuclear test by the DPRK in May 2009 and noted that UNSCR 1874 was adopted on June 12 as a result of that test. -------------- Upcoming Board and General Conference -------------- ¶3. (SBU) At the upcoming September 7 Board of Governors meeting we expect the Director General to have few if any additional comments on North Korea, especially in light of his statement to the June Board that the IAEA has no presence in North Korea. North Korea remains on the Board agenda as item 6(c) and we expect Six Party members and other like-minded states to deliver national statements. Mission recommends the U.S. statement express regret at North Korea's refusal to return to the Six Party Talks, reiterate our commitment to those Talks, and highlight our continued goal of North Korea ending its nuclear weapons program and returning to the NPT and IAEA safeguards. The U.S. statement should state strong support for UNSCR 1874 and 1718. ¶4. (SBU) For the General Conference, the DPRK Core Group (group of like-minded countries chaired by Canada) has begun work on the annual North Korea resolution. The draft text (reftel) has been sent to capitals with the next coordination meeting scheduled for the week of August 17. The General Conference has adopted a resolution on North Korea every year since 1993. PYATT