US embassy cable - 05RANGOON1080

S E C R E T RANGOON 001080 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2015 
TAGS: PARM, PREL, MNUC, KNNP, BM, EU 
SUBJECT: BURMA: CUTTING OFF CONVENTIONAL ARMS TRADE WITH 
NORTH KOREA 
 
REF: STATE 173768 
 
Classified By: P/E Chief W. Patrick Murphy for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) On September 21, visiting EAP/MLS Director and Rangoon 
P/E Chief delivered reftel talking points during a previously 
scheduled meeting with the MFA's Acting Deputy General for 
Political Affairs, U Phae Thann Oo, and Director of the 
Americas Division, U Min Lwin. 
 
2. (S) In delivering the talking points, EAP/BCLTV Director 
emphasized that North Korea must be stopped from selling 
conventional arms in order to hamper its funding of ballistic 
missiles and WMD programs, and urged the GOB to renounce all 
military trade with the DPRK.  U Phae Thann Oo replied by 
saying that Burma is the only country in the region that has 
no diplomatic relations with North Korea, recounting that the 
GOB severed ties in 1983 following the bombing by DPRK agents 
of the visiting South Korean cabinet.  He said that at 
various international forums, North Korea has approached the 
GOB with an appeal to re-establish relations, "but we do not 
intend to re-establish ties." 
 
3. (C) U Phae Thann Oo said that Burma would work with other 
countries in the region to oppose North Korea's efforts to 
finance WMD programs through conventional arms sales.  He 
added that the GOB welcomes progress achieved by the 
six-party talks on North Korea. 
 
4. (S) Comment:  The MFA officials did not address long-held 
speculation that, despite the lack of formal ties, Burma 
maintains a commercial military relationship with North 
Korea.  Although U Phae Thann Oo indicated that Burma agrees 
with the United States on this issue, we have no expectation 
that the GOB will take any meaningful action, to include 
publicly renouncing military trade with North Korea.  End 
Comment. 
Villarosa