U.S.-BOUND NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES BELIEVE RELATIVES

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 002565

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL KN KS TH DPRK
SUBJECT: U.S.-BOUND NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES BELIEVE RELATIVES
IN GRAVE DANGER IF THEIR IDENTITIES ARE REVEALED

REF: A. BANGKOK 2329


B. BANGKOK 2296

C. BANGKOK 2202

Classified By: SUSAN SUTTON, POLITICAL COUNSELOR, REASONS 1.4 (B,D).


1. (C) Refcoord and Deputy Refcoord met May 2 with the six
North Korean refugees approved by DHS for U.S. resettlement
to follow up on concerns expressed by some of the refugees in
their separate resettlement interviews about the safety of
relatives in North Korea (DPRK).


2. (C) All of the refugees expressed serious worry about
their faces or names becoming public and getting picked up by
the DPRK government. The refugees said that the DPRK
government would track down their immediate and extended
relatives and execute them. When asked how the DPRK could do
this, the refugees responded that it would not be difficult
since the North Korean population was small and the DPRK
population registration system was comprehensive. The faces
alone would be enough. One of the refugees asked about the
possibility of being provided a face mask in case
photographers were present upon arrival in the United States.
He also asked whether a name change would be possible to
reduce the risk.


3. (C) Refcoord responded that the USG would honor the
refugees' right to privacy and would not announce where the
refugees would be resettled or comment on their individual
cases. NGOs or others might seek information about the
refugees but the refugees themselves would have the right to
decide whether or not to respond.
BOYCE