DPRK: 1718 COMMITTEE DISCUSSES DESIGNATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000671 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM ETTC MCAP KN UNSC SUBJECT: DPRK: 1718 COMMITTEE DISCUSSES DESIGNATIONS Classified By: Amb. Alex Wolff for Reasons 1.4 (B),(D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The DPRK Sanctions Committee ("1718 Committee") considered on July 9 moving forward with new sanctions designations in light of the fact that key delegations -- particularly, Russia and China -- were still without instructions to respond to the U.S./Japan/France/UK designation proposal. Noting that the Committee was obliged to report to the Security Council on its efforts by Sunday July 12, the chair agreed to a proposal in which he would provide the Council an oral report on progress on Friday July 11, while the Committee continued its deliberations into the next week, if necessary. The P-3 plus Japan and South Korea had engineered this outcome in advance, viewing it as preferable to a high-profile and unneeded confrontation. U.S., French and Japanese representatives insisted, however, that Russia/China produce at least initial feedback on the proposal no later than July 12, so as to keep up the pressure and enable the Committee to agree rapidly on a final designations package prior to the July 19 deadline provided for in resolution 1874. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) In a July 9 meeting, the Security Council's DPRK Sanctions Committee ("1718 Committee") continued its deliberations on making new sanctions designations pursuant to resolution 1874. (NOTE: Resolution 1874 tasked the Committee to make new designations of individuals, entities and goods and to report to the Security Council on its efforts within thirty days of that resolution's adoption, i.e., by July 12. If the Committee has not acted, then the Security Council would complete action within seven days after receiving the Committee's report.). The chair, Turkish charge Corman, noted that the United States, UK, France and Japan submitted on June 19 a joint proposal for such designations, but that a number of delegations -- notably Russia and China -- have received no instructions from capital to respond to this proposal. ¶3. (C) The Russian and Chinese representative confirmed that their capitals had still not provided updated instructions on the proposal. They both cited difficulties with reviewing the material, with the Chinese delegate claiming that six inter-agency meetings had already been held in Beijing to review the proposals. Vietnam also claimed to be without instructions, but no other delegation expressed opposition to the proposals on the table. The Russian representative said that if the Committee took an additional "one, two or three days" to complete its deliberation then it would not be a disaster. He suggested that the chair update the Security Council the following day on the Committee's progress, while the Committee then continues its deliberations. ¶4. (C) The chair, noting that the following day would be the last scheduled Security Council session before the July 12 deadline, said he would be willing to provide the Council with such a report. This report, he said, would note that some delegations had not yet received instructions, no designations had yet been made and that Committee deliberations would continue. (NOTE: P-3, Japan and South Korea missions considered favorably this outcome in advance, assessing it preferable to a high-profile and unneeded confrontation. Just prior to the meeting, Amb. Wolff foreshadowed the idea with the chair. END NOTE.) The U.S., Japanese and French delegates emphasized, however, that Russia and China missions are still expected to produce feedback on the proposal as soon as possible, certainly before July 12, and that the Committee must then wrap up its deliberations as early as possible the following week. The Russian and Chinese delegates -- while not explicitly committing on behalf of their capitals -- both said they expected instructions very soon and would be willing to engage rapidly on the content of the final designations package. RICE