DPRK: COUNCIL VOTES TO IMPOSE NEW SANCTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000592 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM ETTC MCAP KN UNSC SUBJECT: DPRK: COUNCIL VOTES TO IMPOSE NEW SANCTIONS Classified By: Amb. Rosemary DiCarlo for Reasons 1.4 (B),(D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On June 12, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to condemn the May 25 nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and impose new sanctions. All Council members delivered statements that were generally supportive of the text and condemned the nuclear test. Ambassador DiCarlo praised the resolution, calling it innovative, robust and unprecedented, and outlined its principal measures. China and Russia both called the text "appropriate and balanced." Japan, France and the UK praised the resolution and urged the DPRK to comply with its demands. Vietnam and Uganda highlighted the importance of working toward a nuclear-free world. Burkina Faso pointed out that the measures were designed to avoid negative humanitarian impact. Croatia, Costa Rica and Turkey were also supportive, often mentioning that the measures sought to avoid affecting the economic livelihood of DPRK citizens. Mexico, in a swipe to the P-5 plus 2 (Japan and South Korea) drafters, suggested that the response would have been stronger with the fuller participation of the whole Security Council. Libya drew a parallel between the DPRK's experience and its decision to abandon weapons of mass destruction; Libya also called on the international community to take action against Israel's nuclear program. South Korea supported the text and called for the DPRK's return to the Six-Party Talks. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On June 12, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1874 (2009) to condemn the May 25 nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and impose new sanctions in response. Ambassador DiCarlo lauded the text as a "strong and united" international response to North Korea's nuclear test. She highlighted the Council's actions to strengthen the arms embargo, create a new framework for inspections to find proscribed cargo, disrupt North Korea's ability to fund its proliferation, commit to designate new goods, individuals and entities for targeted sanctions, and strengthen the mechanisms to monitor implementations of this tough new sanctions regime. "These measures are innovative, they are robust, and they are unprecedented," DiCarlo said. ¶3. (C) Chinese Perm Rep Zhang called the resolution an "appropriate and balanced" response to the nuclear test. He asserted that the DPRK would have the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy if it rejoined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and emphasized the Council's willingness to review the measures in light of the DPRK's further actions. Russian Perm Rep Churkin also called the resolution "appropriate and balanced." He pointed out that the measures are carefully targeted and that the resolution invokes UN Charter Chapter VII, Article 41, which, he noted, does not authorize the use of force. Churkin also highlighted the Council's willingness to suspend or lift the measures in light of the DPRK's compliance with its international obligations. ¶4. (C) Japanese Perm Rep Takasu characterized the resolution as "firm and strong," adding that the nuclear test was a grave threat to Japan's national security. He said he hoped these measures would induce the DPRK to change its course of action, but emphasized that they were not intended to harm the innocent people of the DPRK. Takasu urged the DPRK to return to the Six-Party Talks without precondition. UK Charge Philip Parham called the resolution "tough" and called on UN Member States to implement the measures, including the new inspections regime, without delay. He urged North Korea to refrain from future provocative actions and return to the negotiating table. French Perm Rep Ripert agreed that the measures were commensurate with the DPRK's provocation. He noted that the establishment of a DPRK Panel of Experts (POE) would be helpful to the DPRK Sanctions Committee. Ripert highlighted the usefulness of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBT) monitoring system in detecting the test. ¶5. (C) Vietnamese Perm Rep Le emphasized the goal of a nuclear weapons-free world. He added that Vietnam had insisted the measures imposed did not affect the livelihood of people and the DPRK's normal economic activities. Ugandan Perm Rep Rugunda also said there should be efforts to work toward the total elimination of nuclear weapons and to advance non-proliferation on the Korean Peninsula. Burkina Faso Perm Rep Kafando noted that states have the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, but that states also must refrain from provocative actions. He also pointed out that the sanctions measures were designed to avoid negative humanitarian impact and called on the DPRK to work cooperatively with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). ¶6. (C) Croatian charge Skracic said he looked forward to the DPRK's accession to the CTBT. He also observed that the measures were not aimed at the general population, but should be seen as a tool for encouraging states to meet their international obligations. Costa Rican Perm Rep Urbina said that the text makes "measured use of the tools at the disposal of the international community." He said he hoped this action would strengthen international non-proliferation regimes and constitute a new step towards nuclear disarmament. Turkish Perm Rep Ilkin said the draft contained the necessary elements of a strong response and that Turkey recognized the importance of the Six-Party Talks and their goal of concrete and irreversible progress on denuclearization. ¶7. (C) Mexican Perm Rep Heller called the resolution a clear message that the DPRK's actions are unacceptable. He said that a message of this sort "is stronger, the more cohesive and fuller the participation of members of the Security Council in its crafting." (NOTE: Two days earlier Heller, along with other elected Council members, complained that the P-5 plus Japan and South Korea had negotiated this text without the input of the full Council. END NOTE). The issues of non-proliferation, disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear energy, Heller asserted, cannot be "the monopoly of a group of states." He condemned the DPRK's violations and said Mexico shares the concern that those actions undermine the goal of a nuclear weapon-free world. Heller argued, however, that the DPRK's actions did not take place in a vacuum, but rather "took place in a context of a constant threat to the international community derived from the existence of nuclear weapons." ¶8. (C) Libyan charge Dabbashi noted that Libya had gotten rid of its weapons of mass destruction under international supervision. He asserted that the international community had lost an opportunity by not properly rewarding Libya for its decision and giving it assistance. Dabbashi said Libya was committed to establishing a nuclear weapons-free zone in the Middle East and that international community measures must extend to Israel's nuclear activities. He supported the Six-Party Talks and dialogue, adding that the sanctions measures imposed in this resolution were formulated in a way so as not to harm the DPRK people directly. ¶9. (C) South Korea Perm Rep Park called the DPRK's development of its nuclear weapons program a "grave challenge to the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation." He urged the DPRK to comply with the newly-adopted resolution, return to the Six-Party Talks and abandon its nuclear weapons and missile programs. RICE