Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK191
2009-02-27 18:00:00
SECRET
USUN New York
Cable title:  

JAPAN WANTS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION IF DPRK

Tags:  PGOV PREL UNSC PINR KN XB SU XA 
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VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0191/01 0581800
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 271800Z FEB 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5959
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 1403
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0993
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 8634
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T USUN NEW YORK 000191 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2029
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC PINR KN XB SU XA
SUBJECT: JAPAN WANTS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION IF DPRK
LAUNCHES; THINKS RESPONSE TO BASHIR ICC ARREST WARRANT WILL
BE CALM

Classified By: UNITED STATES PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE AMBASSADOR SUSAN
RICE, FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D

S E C R E T USUN NEW YORK 000191

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2029
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC PINR KN XB SU XA
SUBJECT: JAPAN WANTS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION IF DPRK
LAUNCHES; THINKS RESPONSE TO BASHIR ICC ARREST WARRANT WILL
BE CALM

Classified By: UNITED STATES PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE AMBASSADOR SUSAN
RICE, FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D


1. (S) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 5.


2. (S) SUMMARY. Ambassador Rice shared U.S. concerns
regarding a potential DPRK missile launch with Japanese
PermRep Takasu on February 26, and asked for Japan's support
in publicly calling any launch a violation of SCR 1718.
Takasu stressed Japan's desire for a Security Council
Resolution (SCR) even if weakly worded in the event of a
launch, while Ambassador Rice opined that an immediate
Presidential Statement could offer a greater opportunity for
a strong SCR subsequently. Takasu said Japan would pressure
China for support during its Foreign Minister's visit this
weekend. On Sudan, Takasu doubted any Council member would
press for a resolution authorizing an Article 16 deferral of
the expected arrest warrant for President Bashir, since he
believed there were not enough votes for it to pass. Takasu
reported that Libya will likely want to brief the press as
Council president, and would likely ask for a meeting on
Sudan for March 6. END SUMMARY.

DPRK-IF THEY LAUNCH, JAPAN WANTS A SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION


3. (S) Japanese PermRep Takasu requested a meeting with
Ambassador Rice to discuss the DPRK and Sudan on February 26.
Ambassador Rice shared with Takasu U.S. concerns with the
DPRK's potential missile launch. Rice noted Secretary
Clinton had called on each member of the six-party talks to
issue a statement defining any new launch, including a space
launch, as a violation of SCR 1718. Takasu said Japan was
still considering the Secretary's request. He stressed Japan
was doing everything it could to discourage the DPRK from any
launch and that such a launch would be a direct threat to
Japan. Takasu also suggested sanctions against the DPRK
previously approved, but not yet implemented, should be
implemented now. He confirmed Japan would react quickly to
any launch by pushing for a resolution in the Council.



4. (S) In the event of a launch, Japan wants a resolution
"similar to the one against Iran," (SCR 1835 from September
2008),according to Ambassador Takasu. (Note: SCR 1835
included no new sanctions against Iran. It called on Iran to
comply fully with previous resolutions. End Note). Rice
argued that a strongly worded Presidential Statement (PRST)
would leave the door open to additional measures, whereas a
resolution like SCR 1835 could make a future resolution that
included sanctions more difficult to get approved. Takasu
asserted that in Tokyo there is a "big difference" between a
PRST and a SCR. He believed the Security Council would need
to be seen as doing something forceful, and China and Russia
would not approve additional sanctions now, so this type of
resolution could be Japan's best option. Rice reiterated the
need to leave open the possibility of a strong resolution,
and asked if he believed China would support a weaker
resolution now. Takasu thought if China could be convinced
such a launch was a violation of SCR 1718, it could support
one.


5. (S) ACTION REQUEST: USUN seeks Department guidance to
share with Japan on their request for support for an initial
UNSCR vice PRST, in the event of a launch.

JAPAN'S FM HEADING TO CHINA, WILL ASK FOR CHINESE SUPPORT


6. (S) Japan's Foreign Minister will visit China from
February 28 to March 1 and would encourage China to pressure
the DPRK not to launch, Takasu said. Japan was very
interested in learning China's position on a resolution.
Takasu believed Russia would follow China's lead, and
encouraged the U.S. to push for China's support as well.


7. (S) Takasu also shared that an unnamed senior DPRK
official, a "big communist" with a science and technology
background, was currently in China, noting the visit may
influence China's interpretation of SCR 1718 regarding this
potential launch.

SUDAN/BASHIR: JAPAN DOUBTS ANYONE WILL CALL FOR ARTICLE 16
DEFERRAL


8. (S) On the likely issuance of an ICC arrest warrant for
Sudanese President Bashir, Ambassador Takasu reported from
his meetings with other Security Council members that he did
not believe China, Russia, African countries or Libya would
push for an Article 16 deferral because they did not have the



votes. He said Council members wanted as quiet a response to
the announcement as possible, unless the situation on the
ground deteriorated. He reported no member was expecting a
major reaction to the announcement in Sudan.

LIBYA TO PUSH FOR A PRESS STATEMENT


9. (S) Takasu said Libya was bound by the African Union (AU)
to push for a press statement by the Council President (Libya
will be President of the Security Council in March),but
believed the Council could avoid any more formal response.
Takasu believed the matter could be handled by Libya as
president speaking to the press afterward, noting the need
for Sudan to cooperate with the UN and UNAMID.

COUNCIL MEETING ON SUDAN EXPECTED MARCH 6


10. (S) He noted Libyan Charge Dabasshi said the AU is
expected to meet following the March 4 ICC announcement and
that the AU would then issue a statement. Takasu expected
Libya would get instructions following that meeting to hold
closed consultations on Sudan on March 6. No member,
according to Takasu, was pushing for a public forum to
discuss Sudan. He said Costa Rica wanted to demand publicly
that Sudan cooperate with the UN, but Costa Rica realized it
had no Council support for its position.


11. (S) When asked how the U.S. would react, Ambassador Rice
said we would respond in kind. If Libya, African nations,
including Sudan, and China respond in a low-key manner, so
would we. If they grandstand, we would respond more
forcefully, she said.

Rice