MFA URGES U.S. TO TAKE POSITIVE STEPS WITH NORTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000158

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/RUS, EAP/K, EAP/J, INR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KN RS
SUBJECT: MFA URGES U.S. TO TAKE POSITIVE STEPS WITH NORTH
KOREA

Classified By: Political External Chief Eric Green for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)


1. (C) Summary: MFA Koreas Division officials said the
DPRK's confusing array of statements since the start of the
year had made the direction of North Korean dialogue
uncertain and urged the U.S. to take steps to return dialogue
to a positive track. Russia continues to support resumption
of the Six Party Talks and remains firm on considering
removal of sanctions only once North Korea has demonstrated
progress on denuclearization. Should the Six Party Talks
eventually resume, the parties would have difficulty agreeing
on the agenda. End Summary.


2. (C) In a January 22 meeting with poloff, MFA Koreas
Division Director Alexander Minaev said the DPRK's unusually
positive new year's message, followed by the DPRK Defense
Committee's threatening response to the ROK's contingency
plan, and the DPRK Foreign Ministry's call for peace treaty
talks had made unclear the direction of dialogue with North
Korea. He said that "the pendulum could swing either way,"
and that the U.S. should take steps to nudge it in a positive
direction. He added that it was up to the "main
antagonists," the U.S. and the DPRK, to make the next move.
He also urged U.S. officials to continue close and frequent
dialogue with Russian counterparts, noting that Russia is the
only partner who can easily engage all parties in the
process. He added that Ambassador-at-Large Grigoriy Logvinov
stood ready to consult with U.S. counterparts and is "full of
ideas" on North Korea.


3. (C) Minaev said Russia was disappointed, but not
surprised by the hostile reaction of the DPRK Government
Defense Committee to the ROK's contingency plan for a
collapse of the North Korean regime. He said there had been
hope that 2010 would bring a new atmosphere of cooperation
and understanding between the two Koreas, but that this now
appeared unlikely. South Korean Embassy contacts said
Russian officials believed that South Korean President Lee
would call for a North-South summit ahead of ROK mid-term
elections in 2010, despite ROK assurances to the contrary.


4. (C) Minaev reiterated Russia's position that the DPRK
should return to the Six Party Talks and added that steps to
reduce sanctions should begin only once the DPRK had made
progress on denuclearization. On the DPRK's desire for a
peace treaty with the U.S., Minaev said Russia could be
comfortable with discussions on a treaty as long as the ROK
was included. (Note: Separately, Institute of Oriental
Studies Koreas expert Alexander Voronstov told poloff on
January 20 that the North Korean Embassy Counselor explained
to him that the DPRK would like to hold peace treaty talks
with the U.S. in parallel to the Six Party Talks. End Note).


5. (C) While he did not expect the Six Party Talks to
reconvene in early 2010, Minaev pointed out that developing
the agenda for resumed negotiations would be a "big headache"
for the Six Party representatives. He said reaching
consensus would be difficult on how to handle Japan and South
Korea's unfulfilled heavy fuel oil pledges (Russia and the
U.S. fulfilled their pledges),the abduction issue (Russia
sees this as a distraction),the role of the IAEA in future
talks (Russia strongly supports this),and verification.
Beyrle