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O 231500Z JUL 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY ASTANA IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY BISHKEK IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY TASHKENT IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T STATE 079112 E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2033 TAGS: MNUC PARM PREL AF CH KG KZ TI TX UZ SUBJECT: (S) FLIGHT OF PROLIFERATION CONCERN BETWEEN DPRK AND IRAN REF: ASTANA 1286 Classified By: ISN Acting DAS Kenneth W. Staley, Reasons 1.4 (b), (c), and (d) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. SEE PARA 2. ¶ 1. (S) Posts are requested to approach appropriate-level host nation officials regarding a planned North Korean flight to Iran of proliferation concern and encourage them to deny overflight for the aircraft or require that it land and be subjected to inspection before proceeding. Posts may draw from background, objectives, and talking points/non-paper below as appropriate. ---------- OBJECTIVES ---------- ¶ 2. (S//REL AFGHANISTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, UZBEKISTAN): Posts should encourage host governments, as partner nations in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and consistent with their obligations under UNSCRs 1718, 1737, and 1747, to deny overflight or to insist that the aircraft land for inspection before proceeding. ¶ 3. (S//REL CHINA) Embassy Beijing should encourage China, consistent with its obligations under UNSCRs 1718, 1737, and 1747, to deny overflight or to insist that the aircraft land for inspection before proceeding. ¶ 4. (S//REL KAZAKHSTAN) Our information currently does not indicate a North Korean intent to overfly Kazakhstan, suggesting that GOK, per REFTEL, has denied the DPRK,s request. Embassy Astana is requested to express appreciation for GOK,s proactively notifying us of the DPRK overflight request and urge them to deny any such request if they have not already done so. Post may share the below non-paper with GOK, as appropriate. ---------- BACKGROUND ---------- ¶ 5. (S//REL CHINA, AFGHANISTAN, KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, UZBEKISTAN) The USG has received information that a flight of proliferation concern between North Korea and Iran is scheduled to occur in late July. ¶ 6. (S//REL AFGHANISTAN, KAZAKHSTAN, TAJIKISTAN) Our information does not currently indicate a North Korean intent to route the flight over Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, or Tajikistan. We are, however, providing them this information in the spirit of our cooperation under PSI, and to ask them to deny overflight or inspect the aircraft in the event the North Koreans re-route the flight. ¶ 7. (S) Embassies should note that bullet #1 is for Beijing only, bullet #2 is for all recipients except Beijing, and bullet #3 is for Astana, Kabul, and Dushanbe only. The rest of the non-paper is for all recipients. ------------------------ TALKING POINTS/NON-PAPER ------------------------ ¶ 8. (S//REL CHINA, AFGHANISTAN, KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, UZBEKISTAN) Begin talking points/non-paper: -- (S//REL CHINA) We would like to raise with you a North Korean flight of proliferation concern that may request overflight of your territory as it transits to and from Iran. -- (S//REL AFGHANISTAN, KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, UZBEKISTAN) In the spirit of our cooperation under the Proliferation Security Initiative, we would like to raise with you a North Korean flight of proliferation concern that may request overflight of your territory as it transits to and from Iran. -- (S//REL AFGHANISTAN, KAZAKHSTAN, TAJIKISTAN) While our current information indicates that this flight will not cross your territory, we are providing it to you in the spirit of our cooperation as PSI partners and in the event that the flight,s schedule is changed and you do receive a North Korean overflight request. -- (S//REL CHINA, AFGHANISTAN, KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, UZBEKISTAN) We are concerned that this chartered, round-trip passenger flight may be carrying DPRK personnel involved in ongoing cooperation with Iran on ballistic missiles. -- (S//REL CHINA, AFGHANISTAN, KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, UZBEKISTAN) As you know, the transfer by North Korea of WMD components or delivery systems, certain military goods, and related materials including spare parts, is prohibited by UNSCR 1718. UNSCR 1718 also prohibits transfers from or to North Korea of technical training, advice, services or assistance related to WMD, their delivery systems, and certain conventional arms. Iran is prohibited from obtaining WMD, delivery systems, related components, and related technical assistance and training under UNSCRs 1737 and 1747. -- (S//REL CHINA, AFGHANISTAN, KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, UZBEKISTAN) We therefore request that overflight permission be denied or made contingent on inspection of the aircraft to ensure that any cargo or passengers it carries are not arriving in Iran in violation of UNSCR 1718, 1737, 1747 or other UN resolutions. Alternately, if this aircraft requests a fueling stop in your country, we request that you grant this permission and promptly search the aircraft upon its arrival for evidence of prohibited items or activities. -- (S//REL CHINA, AFGHANISTAN, KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, UZBEKISTAN) Information about the flights are as follows. The outbound flight from the DPRK is expected on or about July 31, 2008. The aircraft is a North Korean-registered Il-62, flight JS-621, scheduled to depart Pyongyang on 28 July at 0001Z and land in Tehran at 0940Z. -- (S//REL CHINA, AFGHANISTAN, KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, UZBEKISTAN) From North Korea, the flight is scheduled to pass into Chinese airspace at or about 0025Z and leave Chinese airspace for Kyrgyzstan at 0600Z. From there, the flight is scheduled to pass over Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and arrive in Iranian airspace at or around 0825Z. -- (S//REL CHINA, AFGHANISTAN, KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, UZBEKISTAN) The return flight, JS-622, is scheduled to depart Tehran on 31 July at 1330Z and arrive at Pyongyang at 2220Z. -- (S//REL CHINA, AFGHANISTAN, KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, UZBEKISTAN) From Iran, the flight is scheduled to pass into Turkmenistan airspace on or about 1440Z and pass over Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, entering Chinese airspace from Kyrgyzstan at 1655Z. From there the flight is scheduled to re-enter North Korean airspace on or around 2200Z. END POINTS. ----------------------------- REPORTING REQUIREMENT AND POC ----------------------------- ¶ 6. (U) Please report delivery of demarche and any immediate response by July 24. ¶ 7. (U) Washington point of contact for follow-up information is Tom Zarzecki, (202) 647-7594, zarzeckitw@state.sgov.gov. Please slug all responses for EAP, NEA, ISN, SCA, and T. Washington appreciates Posts, assistance. RICE NNNN End Cable Text