NORTH KOREA: CATHOLIC RELIEF AGENCY BUILDING

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 002890

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EUR/WE LEVIN; DRL/IRF INBODEN; EAP/K

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2014
TAGS: PHUM EAID PGOV KN VT KS KIRF
SUBJECT: NORTH KOREA: CATHOLIC RELIEF AGENCY BUILDING
BRIDGES

REF: VATICAN 05264

Classified By: Ambassador Jim Nicholson, reasons 1.5 (b and d)

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Summary
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1. (C) The Holy See's North Korea Country Director told us
July 9 that Caritas has reinforced its traditional emergency
food aid programs with training programs for local North
Korean officials. The Vatican is cautiously optimistic that
this focus on relationship building will create a greater
acceptance of Western aid workers, and a growing openess in
North Korean society that could eventually lead to a degree
of religious freedom. End Summary.

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Food Aid Builds Relationships in the Hermit Kingdom
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2. (C) Holy See Country Director for North Korea, Monsignor
Luis Montemayor, reviewed with us July 9 the work in North
Korea of Catholic relief agency Caritas International-- one
of the largest NGOs providing humanitarian aid in the DPRK.
He noted that Caritas provided emergency food aid for
immediate crises and conducted training programs for North
Koreans in local governance and cooperation with Western aid
agencies. The latter, he said, are deliberately
under-reported by Caritas for fear that media attention could
spark a governmental crack-down on Western aid work.


3. (C) The DPRK clients in these "confidence-building
programs" are primarily officials from "semi-governmental"
North Korean organizations. According to Montemayor, these
programs not only facilitate the deployment of Caritas aid,
but also foster long-term relationships between Western aid
workers and North Korean officials. He understood that local
officials had begun to exhibit greater trust of outsiders
after increased exposure to Westerners.


4. (C) Kathi Zellweger, Director for International
Cooperation for Caritas Hong Kong, told us Caritas has made
this focus on personal relationships and openness a central
aspect of its strategy to advance its work in North Korea.
She noted that Caritas had sponsored "exposure tours" for
North Koreans, such as a recent a trip to China for the new
Korean Association for Supporting the Disabled. The North
Koreans saw first hand the techniques the Chinese use in
working with the disabled -- and the cooperation between the
Chinese and Caritas. Zellweger said that requests for study
tours and training programs abroad are increasing, and
Caritas now tries to introduce such exposure programs
whenever possible.

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Comment
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5. (C) The Holy See recognizes that there is currently very
little space in the political and social framework of the
DPRK for religious freedom, but believes Caritas can help
create at least a little room for outside influence in the
country. In addition, these programs can supplement Caritas'
traditional emergency aid efforts to quietly build long-term
relationships between North Koreans and outsiders. Taking
this long-term view, the Vatican hopes that the seeds Caritas
sows today in North Korea that will eventually produce a more
open society with religious freedom for all.

NICHOLSON


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2004VATICA02890 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL