DPRK: U.S. COORDINATOR PRESSES 1874 IMPLEMENTATION

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000742 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MCAP PGOV PHUM PREL KNNP KN UNSC SUBJECT: DPRK: U.S. COORDINATOR PRESSES 1874 IMPLEMENTATION ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On July 30, Ambassador Philip Goldberg, U.S. Coordinator for the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1874 briefed the Security Council's DPRK Sanctions Committee ("1718 Committee") about U.S. efforts to implement sanctions on North Korea. He urged the Committee to remain active and engaged, and not to act solely in response to new North Korean provocations. Calling the sanctions a "means to an end," Goldberg relayed the U.S. goal of a return to negotiations and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. He highlighted U.S. national efforts to implement financial provisions of UNSCR 1874 and share information to aid cargo inspections. UK, French and Japanese representatives welcomed Goldberg's briefing and asked a number of questions about the U.S. approach. The Chinese representative reiterated Beijing's commitment to implement UNSCR 1874 "in good faith" and said that the positions outlined by Goldberg were in line with Beijing's stance. END SUMMARY. GOLDBERG: SANCTIONS ARE "MEANS TO AN END" -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On July 30, Philip Goldberg, U.S. Coordinator for the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1874, briefed the Security Council's DPRK Sanctions Committee ("1718 Committee") about U.S. efforts to implement sanctions on North Korea. He was accompanied by Richard Johnson of the State Department (EAP),Charles Lutes of the National Security Council and Jennifer Fowler of the Department of Treasury. Goldberg lauded the "unprecedented new measures" contained in resolution 1874, which he said showed the international community's unity and determination. He explained that the United States believed that full implementation of resolutions 1718 and 1874 was necessary not only to further the goal of verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner, but also to pre-empt further proliferation activities. ¶3. (SBU) Goldberg thanked Chairman Fazli Corman (Turkish Charge d'Affaires) and the Committee for its efforts thus far. He also urged the Committee to remain active and engaged, as opposed to solely reacting to new North Korean provocations. Goldberg emphasized U.S. support for continued Committee work on additional designations of individuals, entities, and items subject to the measures contained in resolutions 1718 and 1874; he also welcomed any 
recommendations from the Panel of Experts (POE),the team of experts to be mandated to monitor and improve implementation of the resolution. ¶4. (SBU) Goldberg highlighted U.S. efforts to implement resolution 1874, including the establishment of a high-level implementation task force and outreach efforts to various Member States such as China and Malaysia in addition to an upcoming visit to Russia. He underlined U.S. steps to implement the resolution thus far, specifically U.S. efforts to advise U.S. financial institutions of the asset freeze that the Committee imposed on entities and individuals subject to resolution 1718. He offered to share with the Committee a recent U.S. Treasury Department advisory notice warning financial institutions about the risks of banking with North Korea. (NOTE: USUN later circulated this advisory formally to the Committee. END NOTE). With respect to UNSCR 1874's provisions on cargo inspection, Goldberg emphasized the need for states to share information. He explained that the resolution's purpose was not to prohibit all transactions with North Korea, but nevertheless he urged all Member States to reassess their dealings with North Korea and, if they conduct such transactions, to do so in a transparent manner. CHINA COMMITS TO IMPLEMENTATION -------------- ¶5. (SBU) In response to a question from the UK about the international political commitment to implement resolution 1874, Goldberg cited recent cases of states abiding by their obligations under the resolution, including the seizure of Italian luxury yachts destined for North Korea and the case of the DPRK-flagged vessel Kang Nam 1. He noted that these incidents were successes of the resolution and demonstrated strong unified efforts by the international community. The French representative asked for additional information about implementing the arms embargo and financial measures. The Japanese representative welcomed the briefing. ¶6. (SBU) The Chinese representative emphasized Beijing's firm commitment to implement resolutions 1718 and 1874 "in good faith." He stated that Ambassador Goldberg's presentation was "almost the same" in substance as the message he had heard from Beijing. China and the United States share positions and views on the DPRK, he remarked, and Ambassador Goldberg was well aware of Chinese views following his recent visit to Beijing. The Chinese representative added that China does not believe that the UN Security Council is the appropriate venue to resolve the DPRK nuclear issue, but added that the Security Council can be conducive to diplomatic efforts. The Chinese representative closed by committing to work closely with the United States to maintain peace and stability in Northeast Asia. ¶7. (SBU) Ambassador Goldberg has cleared this cable. RICE