EXCELLENT THAI-DPRK RELATIONS NOT SO USEFUL IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 007184 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL TH DPRK SUBJECT: EXCELLENT THAI-DPRK RELATIONS NOT SO USEFUL IN ABDUCTION CASE REF: BANGKOK 005627 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR SUSAN M. SUTTON FOR REASON 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (C) Summary. Allegations in a new book that North Korean abducted a Thai woman working in Macao in 1978 have grabbed local headlines and prompted Foreign Minister Kantathi to pledge government efforts to return her to Thailand. Thai officials, however, are finding their North Korean counterparts less than helpful on the case, but this issue is unlikely to derail Prime Minister Thaksin's planned visit to Pyongyang next year. End Summary. ALLEGED DPRK ABDUCTION OF THAI IN 1978 -------------- ¶2. (SBU) U.S. Army deserter and former North Korean resident Charles Robert Jenkins' Japanese language book "Kokuhaku" ("To Tell the Truth") alleges that he knew a Thai woman who had been abducted by DPRK authorities in the 1970's and forced to marry a fellow U.S. Army deserter. This revelation has grabbed local headlines (Note, the Nation newspaper has run almost daily stories. End Note) and prompted pressure on the RTG to make good on its broad pledge to protect Thai citizens abroad. ¶3. (SBU) Based on Thai Embassy Tokyo's meetings with Jenkins and a review of missing persons cases from the 1970's, Thai officials believe that the woman in question is Anocha Panjoy, a Thai national who went missing in 1978 shortly after arriving in Macao to work. Her brother has been in close contact with Thai authorities and Japanese NGO's involved in the abduction issue. SURPRISE! DPRK NOT SO HELPFUL -------------- ¶4. (C) MFA officials told Poloff on 17 November that they have met with North Korean diplomats to discuss this case, but that the DPRK Embassy here denies having any knowledge of Anocha. RTG officials are assiduously avoiding any discussion of the "abduction," and in their dealing with the North Koreans, refer to the issue as a "missing persons case" so as not to offend their interlocutors. That said, Thai officials are hoping that their repeated requests for further information checks--in the form of daily phone calls to the DPRK mission here--may yet produce some results. Given the heavy press play, both the Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister are personally interested in this case. When asked if this issue could impede PM Thaksin's planned trip to Pyongyang next year (ref) MFA officials said "not really." COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) RTG officials make much of their "excellent relations" with Pyongyang, often in an attempt to involve themselves in such issues as the six-party talks. This case may highlight how unhelpful the DPRK can be, even with "friends," but it appears that this will not affect Thaksin's North Korea policy. BOYCE