DPRK: COUNCIL REFERS LETTER TO 1718 COMMITTEEE

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000833

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM ETTC MCAP KN UNSC
SUBJECT: DPRK: COUNCIL REFERS LETTER TO 1718 COMMITTEEE


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On September 9, the Security Council agreed
to refer a letter recently received from the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the Council's DPRK
Sanctions Committee ("1718 Committee"). Ambassador Rice
pointed to the letter's contents -- including its rejection
of resolution 1874 and claims about its nuclear program --
and observed that a formal Council response would probably be
counterproductive. Noting that the letter was triggered by a
1718 Committee request for information from the DPRK about a
reported sanctions violation, she proposed the Council refer
the letter to the Committee for its review and possible
appropriate action. Japan supported the proposal; no
delegations objected. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) On September 9, the Security Council agreed to refer
a letter received from the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (DPRK) to the Council's DPRK Sanctions Committee ("1718
Committee"). Raising the issue under "Any Other Business" on
the Council's agenda, Ambassador Rice noted she had received
it on September 3 in her capacity as Council President. In
the letter, Rice explained, the DPRK had rejected resolution
1874 and made certain claims about the status of its nuclear
program. A formal Council response was not necessary, she
asserted, and probably would be counterproductive.


3. (SBU) Rice observed that the letter was apparently
triggered by a request from the 1718 Committee for more
information from the DPRK about a reported sanctions
violation. (NOTE: The 1718 Committee wrote to the DPRK on
August 25 requesting additional information about an
intercepted shipment of arms being shipped from the DPRK to
Iran in violation of resolution 1874. The Committee
requested a response within ten days, i.e., by September 9.
END NOTE). She proposed that the Council refer the letter to
the 1718 Committee for its review as part of the
investigation into this reported sanctions violation. She
added that if asked by the press about this matter, she would
explain factually that the Council had referred the letter to
the 1718 Committee for its review and possible appropriate
action.


4. (SBU) Japanese Perm Rep Takasu said he supported Rice's
proposal, adding that Japan believed the 1718 Committee was
doing good work. No delegation opposed the suggestion. The
Council President (the United States) will therefore send a
letter to the 1718 Committee chair (Turkish Perm Rep Apakan),
formally referring the letter to the Committee and allowing
it to become part of the Committee's investigation.
RICE