NEW ZEALAND RESPONSE TO UNSC 1718 COMMITTEE

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000121 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/CPI JENNIFER CHALMERS, T, EAP, EAP/ANP, STATE PASS TO TREASURY E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2019 TAGS: EFIN ETTC KNNP PREL PARM NZ SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND RESPONSE TO UNSC 1718 COMMITTEE DESIGNATION OF DPRK ENTITIES AND ASSET FREEZE REF: STATE 48525 Classified By: ADCM MBMCKEAN for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In response to reftel request, Econoff delivered demarche to New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) Asia Division and New Zealand's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). At MFAT, Econoff spoke with Patrick Rata, Deputy Director for Japan/Korea Unit and to Brody Sinclair, Policy Officer for North Korea (DPRK). Mr.Sinclair informed Econoff that New Zealand had implemented UN Security Council resolution 1718 via the UN Sanctions (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) Regulations 2006, which came into force December 15, 2006. Post will sent a copy of this regulation to contacts in ISN/CPI via unclassified email for reference. Regulation 15 of this document prohibits dealings in assets, money, or securities of, or derived from property of, designated persons or entities, and regulation 16 prohibits sending funds to designated persons or entities. Accordingly, existing New Zealand legislation already covers this asset freeze designation against: (a) Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation; (b) Korea Ryonbong General Corporation; and (c) Tanchon Commercial Bank. ¶2. (C) Relevant New Zealand authorities, such as banks, have been notified of the new status of these entities. These additional rules were also conveyed to a New Zealand firm last week that inquired about procuring Calcined Magnesite (Magnesium Oxide) from a (different) company who sources this product from North Korea. Because of New Zealand's strong anti-nuclear stance, Post is reassured that NZ officials will remain vigilant in applying the asset freeze. KEEGAN