O 242340Z APR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY ANKARA IMMEDIATE

S E C R E T STATE 043800 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2033 
TAGS: KNNP PREL PARM NK SY TU
 
SUBJECT: (S) RESPONSE TO TURKEY ON SUSPECT NORTH KOREAN 
FLIGHT 
 
REF: A. STATE 034278 
     ¶B. STATE 013637 
     ¶C. STATE 010930 
     ¶D. ANKARA 000438 
     ¶E. CARL SIEBENTRITT EMAIL 4/24 
 
Classified By: EUR/PRA Director Anita Friedt for 
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
-------------------------- 
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST 
-------------------------- 
 
¶1. (S/Rel Turkey) Post is instructed to immediately approach 
appropriate host government officials to discuss North 
Korea's request for overflight permission of a charter Air 
Koryo flight from Pyongyang to Damascus.  Turkish officials 
should be encouraged to continue to request that the aircraft 
land for inspection as a condition for granting clearance. 
Washington has been tracking this planned flight and has 
additional scheduling details to share. Post may draw from 
Objectives, Background, and non-paper below, as appropriate. 
 
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OBJECTIVES 
---------- 
 
¶2.  (S) Drawing from paragraphs 3 and 4, Post is requested to 
pursue the following objectives: 
 
-- Thank Turkish officials for their continuing vigilance and 
cooperation on this issue of potential proliferation concern, 
and note that this is the type of cooperation we encourage as 
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) partners. 
 
-- Remind host government that per previous demarches on 
similar flights, Air Koryo flights that are not regularly 
scheduled are unusual and are a cause for concern. 
 
-- Remind host government that North Korea and Syria have a 
history of cooperation on nuclear and missile related 
projects. 
 
-- Request host government to detain any suspicious cargo for 
further investigation to ensure it is not in violation of 
UNSCR 1718 or could otherwise contribute to a program of 
proliferation concern in Syria. 
 
-- Request that Turkish officials continue to provide 
information that they find regarding this flight or any 
future flights of concern. 
 
--Acknowledge difference in call signs between Turkey's 
information and U.S. information and indicate that we believe 
this is the same flight. 
 
 
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BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶3.  (S/Rel Turkey) Since February Washington has been 
tracking an Air Koryo charter flight, which has been 
rescheduled multiple times, intending to fly from Pyongyang, 
North Korea to Damascus, Syria.  Washington is concerned that 
this flight may be intended to carry cargo in violation of 
UNSCR 1718 (Refs A, B, and C).  In March, Turkey received an 
overflight clearance request for an Air Koryo flight 
scheduled for March 11 from Pyongyang to Damascus.  The Turks 
requested the aircraft land for inspection as a condition for 
granting overflight (Ref D).  Washington has details on this 
flight to share with Turkey in the attached non-paper. 
 
¶4. (S/Rel Turkey) On April 24, Turkish officials informed 
Washington that North Korea has again requested overflight 
permission for an Air Koryo flight on April 28.  Washington 
welcomed the news that Turkish officials plan to treat this 
flight as suspicious.  Consistent with our ongoing concerns 
about this activity, Washington again urges Turkey, if it has 
not already done so, to request the aircraft land for 
inspection as a condition for granting overflight.  As in the 
previous cases, we do not have any specific information to 
share with Turkish officials regarding this flight. 
Nevertheless, Washington continues to have concerns about 
this activity and believes that continued diplomatic efforts 
are warranted to further deter North Korea from using such 
flights to transport illicit cargo. 
 
--------- 
NON-PAPER 
--------- 
 
¶5. (S/Rel Turkey) 
 
-- We have some further information on the flight of serious 
proliferation concern that has requested overflight of your 
territory as it transits to and from Syria and may be in 
violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718. 
 
--According to our information, an Il-62 transport aircraft 
belonging to the North Korean airline Air Koryo is scheduled 
to depart North Korea for Iran and Syria on 28 April 2008. 
The call sign for this flight is JS621. 
 
-- The aircraft is due to depart Syria on 1 May 2008 and stop 
again in Iran en route back to the DPRK.  The call sign for 
this flight is JS622. 
 
-- The suspected time-table for these flights is as follows: 
 
-- Flight A; Il-62 Call Sign JS621. 
      --28 April 2008, 0001, Depart Pyongyang 
      --28 April 2008, 0941, Arrive Tehran 
      --28 April 2008, 1140, Depart Tehran 
      --28 April 2008, 1420, Arrive Damascus 
 
-- Flight B; Il-62 Call Sign JS622 
      --1 May 2008; 0900, Depart Damascus 
      --1 May 2008; 1130, Arrive Tehran 
      --1 May 2008; 1330, Depart Tehran 
      --1 May 2008; 2220, Arrive Pyongyang 
 
-- We request, if you have not already done so, that you 
inform Air Koryo that you will only provide overflight 
clearance contingent upon full inspection of the aircraft and 
cargo and grant any fueling stop by this flight and prepare 
to inspect the cargo immediately upon landing. 
 
 
End non-paper 
 
---------------- 
POINT OF CONTACT 
---------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) Post should report results by April 28, 2008. 
Washington point of contact for follow-up information is 
Matthew Zartman, (202) 647-7588, zartmanml@state.sgov.gov. 
Please slug all responses for EAP, EUR, ISN, NEA, and T. 
Washington appreciates Post's continued assistance on this 
matter. 
RICE 
 
 
NNNN 
 



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