ISLAMABAD: Pakistani officials claim that a United Nations panel grossly exaggerated the number of visits by two North Korean ‘diplomats’ to Pakistan, which internationally raised concerns about the motive of their frequent trips.

A UN panel of experts monitoring the enforcement of sanctions on North Korea had in a recent report claimed that the Iran-based North Korean officials identified as Jang Yong Son and Kim Yong Chol had transited Karachi and Islamabad “on at least 28 occasions between 10 December 2012 and 25 October 2015”.

The two were at that time suspected to be linked with the listed Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation (KOMID), which is reportedly involved in trade of equipment related to ballistic missiles, though the UN is now convinced about the link.

In background interviews, multiple sources confirmed that Pakistan had been asked by the UN about these trips. But, after internal investigations, they say, it transpired that the North Korean officials had only visited Pakistan six times and the same was communicated to the UN.

The Pakistani contention has been that a round trip by the Korean officials was counted by the UN panel as two trips and since they were travelling together, the figure was doubled and single visit was counted as four trips. “That’s how they arrived at this figure of 28,” explained a source who had knowledge of the issue.

Two diplomats who visited Pakistan were suspected of having links with a company reportedly involved in trade of ballistic missile equipment

Pakistan had further told the UN that the two were issued visas as part of normal diplomatic practice of granting visas to diplomats as both carried diplomatic passports and had been accredited by Iran. The Pakistani position had been that the Korean officials did not mention their affiliation with KOMID in their applications.

The purpose of the trip stated by them in their visa application was visit to their embassy in Islamabad and the embassy’s economic section in Karachi.

“This is very normal diplomatic practice. Our diplomats also visit embassies,” a source said, adding that “someone had been trying to sensationalise the matter”.

The North Korean officials had also been travelling to the UAE, China, Singapore and Malaysia.

Saving grace

What probably went to the benefit of Pakistan was that the two had not been listed by the UN then although they had been on a US list since January 2015.

The UN put them on the sanctions list last month for their association with KOMID, when the list established and maintained by the 1,718 (2006) committee was updated.

Pakistan has been complying with earlier UN sanctions against North Korea and is in the process of putting into effect the latest curbs.

“Compliance report regarding earlier resolutions had been submitted to the UN, but for the new sanctions there are some legal requirements that have to be met. We are fulfilling those requirements. A statutory notification has to be issued to give effect to resolutions of the Security Council in Pakistan,” said one official explaining the process for implementing the UN sanctions.

Pakistan’s official position vis-à-vis North Korea has been that Pyongyang should refrain from nuclear tests and abide by all its international obligations. Islamabad insists that all parties should avoid actions that could be detrimental to the objective of establishment of a nuclear weapons-free Korean Peninsula within the framework of Six-Party Talks.

There had been previously allegations in the West about cooperation between Pakistan and North Korea on missile development and nuclear technology, which flowed from allegations that the AQ Khan Network transferred sensitive technology to help Pyongyang build its programme.

Pakistani officials dismiss these as unfounded allegations and deny any collaboration with North Korea.

“These are all allegations. This is what the West always says. There is no interaction or contact now,” an official said, adding that the UNSC sanctions are so extensive that they do not allow any sort of collaboration.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2016