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
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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
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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.
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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