C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000802

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/BCLTV, PRM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM ASEC KS KN TH LAOS DPRK
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR-FM SURAKIART ON NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM
SEEKER IN VIENTIANE

REF: A. STATE 13599

B. VIENTIANE 128

C. SEOUL 444

D. EMBASSY VIENTIANE (BAUER) JANUARY 31 E-MAIL TO
EMBASSY BANGKOK (ARVIZU)

Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason: 1.4 (d)


1. (C) On January 28, while in Phuket for Thai-hosted
conference on a tsunami early warning system (EWS), the
Ambassador spoke with Foreign Minister Surakiart about Ahn
Kyong Su, the North Korean asylum seeker in Embassy
Vientiane. The Ambassador noted that the Lao government
would not allow transit to Thailand for onward travel to
South Korea using a commercial flight from Vientiane, and
insisted that the North Korean could only cross the border
into Thailand by land. He urged Thai flexibility on the land
option. Surakiart said that he was aware of the Ambassador's
earlier approach to MFA Permanent Secretary Krit
Garnjana-Goonchorn and had been updated regularly on
working-level discussions and developments by his staff.


2. (C) At first Surakiart asked why the USG did not press the
Lao harder on the air option and even offered to call
himself. After the Ambassador told him that the Lao
government had not yielded after several approaches and
clearly would not budge, Surakiart indicated that Thailand
would agree to land passage as long as the North Korean is
properly documented by the ROK and taken directly from Nong
Khai to Udorn, and then flown to Bangkok airport for
immediate travel onwards.


3. (C) Per Ref D, FM Surakiart has instructed the Thai
Ambassador in Vientiane to convey to Embassy Vientiane and
the Lao Government that Thailand will allow Anh to enter
Thailand via land as long as the conditions are met. The
next critical step would appear for the ROK to issue Anh the
proper travel documents either in Vientiane or elsewhere so
that they can be passed to him on the Friendship Bridge
between Laos and Thailand. In addition, it would be best if
the ROK would agree to take custody of Anh at the Friendship
Bridge, transport him to Bangkok for his onward travel to
Seoul, and coordinate with the Thai Government as necessary
on these arrangements. We stand ready to assist.
BOYCE