VZCZCXRO7007
RR RUEHAG
DE RUEHUB #0783/01 2842024
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 112024Z OCT 06 ZDK
FM USINT HAVANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8124
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0028
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0008
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0006
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 020783 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2016 
TAGS: PREL KN PARM KNNP CU
SUBJECT: CUBANS UNEASY WITH DPRK NUKE TEST 
 
REF: A. (A) SECSTATE 196418 
 
     ¶B. (B) HAVANA 18991 
     ¶C. (C) HAVANA 18307 
 
HAVANA 00020783  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: COM Michael Parmly for Reason 1.4 (?) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: The Cuban Government on October 10 signaled 
its displeasure with North Korea's reported nuclear test.  In 
language lacking the warmth usually reserved for a fellow 
communist nation, Cuban state media reported the UN Security 
Council's condemnation of the reported underground blast and 
noted firm Chinese opposition as well.  The GOC's detailed 
reference to the Chinese Government's position speaks volumes 
about China's growing role as a "sugar daddy" to the regime. 
End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) The GOC responded coolly October 10 to North Korea's 
reported nuclear test, in a state-media article that notes 
UNSC and Chinese objections but offers no firm GOC position, 
and also no solidarity to a fellow communist nation.  In a 
front-page, two-column article in Granma (translation below), 
the GOC notes that the Security Council met and condemned the 
incident.  The article adds that the UNSC is poised to 
discuss economic and other sanctions against North Korea. 
 
¶3. (U) Tellingly, the article describes in detail the Chinese 
Government's firm opposition to the reported underground 
test.  It quotes three times from the Chinese Government's 
"strong statement" on the matter, including its view that the 
North Koreans ignored "the generalized opposition of the 
international community." 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶4. (C) Granma's detailed remarks on the Chinese position 
speak volumes about China's growing importance to the Cuban 
regime.  And for good reason; trade between the two countries 
has doubled over the past five years, according to Cuba's 
Minister of Economics and Planning (reftel B).  China has 
half a billion dollars invested in Cuba's nickel industry, 
plus major investments in energy, electronics, transportation 
and biotechnology.  Cuba sees China right behind Venezuela as 
an economic benefactor (reftel C).  The GOC is pragmatically 
defending its hopes for further trade financing credits from 
China.  In short, the Cuban regime knows what side its bread 
is margarined on. 
 
TRANSLATION 
----------- 
 
¶5. (U) Following is an unofficial translation of the Cuban 
announcement: 
 
On October 3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's 
Democratic Republic of Korea announced that it intended to 
carry out a nuclear test.  Six days later, it was learned 
that the nuclear test had taken place. 
 
On that same day, October 9, almost unanimous critical 
commentaries immediately began appearing regarding that 
event. 
 
The UN Security Council met in the morning of the 9th and its 
members condemned the test, which they said was a threat to 
international peace and security. 
According to what has been announced, that UN body is to meet 
to discuss a proposed resolution on the matter, which 
predictably will be based on a document that is already 
circulating and includes economic and other types of 
sanctions against the People's Democratic Republic of Korea. 
 
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said that this action 
violates the international regulations on disarmament and 
non-proliferation, as well as the current moratorium on 
nuclear testing. 
 
The People's Republic of China issued a strong statement, 
affirming that "the People's Democratic Republic of Korea 
flagrantly carried out the nuclear test, ignoring the 
generalized opposition of the international community."  The 
Chinese Government also stated that it was "firmly opposed to 
that action."  Likewise, it "urged all parties involved to 
respond serenely and to persist in the search for a solution 
via consultation and dialogue."  China announced that it 
 
HAVANA 00020783  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
would "continue making every effort to reach that goal." 
 
It is to be expected that the coming days will be highly 
tense in international political and diplomatic circles, when 
discussion begins in the UN Security Council on a series of 
heavy international sanctions against the People's Democratic 
Republic of Korea as a result of the nuclear test. End 
unofficial translation. 
PARMLY