Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANGKOK3226
2006-05-29 23:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

THREE NORTH KOREANS APPROACH EMBASSY

Tags:  PREF PGOV PREL PHUM KN KS TH DPRK 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

292345Z May 06
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003226 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2016
TAGS: PREF PGOV PREL PHUM KN KS TH DPRK
SUBJECT: THREE NORTH KOREANS APPROACH EMBASSY

REF: STATE 58514

Classified By: MICHAEL HONNOLD, REFCOORD, REASON 1.4 (B,D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003226

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2016
TAGS: PREF PGOV PREL PHUM KN KS TH DPRK
SUBJECT: THREE NORTH KOREANS APPROACH EMBASSY

REF: STATE 58514

Classified By: MICHAEL HONNOLD, REFCOORD, REASON 1.4 (B,D).


1. (C) On May 27 at approximately 0900 local time, three
women claiming to be North Koreans approached the Embassy.
They were unaccompanied and spoke minimal English and no
Thai. Using an Embassy emplopyee as interpreter, Refcoord,
Deputy Refcoord, and Assistant RSO briefly interviewed the
three persons. Embassy had no advance notice that the three
were coming.


2. (C) The three said they had travelled to Bangkok on an
overnight bus from Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. Upon
arrival in Bangkok, they said they told a taxi driver in
English that they wanted to go to the American Embassy. Two
are sisters. When asked why they had approached the Embassy,
all three responded that they want to go to the United
States. The three persons are: Yang Un Mi, DOB April 11,
1098; Yang Un Ju, DOB May 13, 1984; and Hon Myong He, DOB
July 6, 1967.


3. (C) Per reftel instructions, Refcoord referred the three
persons to UNHCR. Refcoord contacted and told UNHCR about
the cases, expressed the USG interest in them and indicated
that the USG would be willing to process the three for U.S.
resettlement if they expressed interest in that. Given their
limited English and lack of Thai language ability, Refcoord
accompanied the three to UNHCR in a taxi and passed them to a
UNHCR official. They will be interviewed on May 26 by the
South Korean seconded to UNHCR by the ROK Embassy. The
interviews will determine if they are in fact North Koreans
and want U.S. resettlement. The UNHCR official stated that
if they are found to be North Koreans, they would immediately
be issued person of concern letters. The UNHCR official
stated he would inform the Embassy of the results of the
interviews. If necessary, UNHCR will arrange for temporary
housing of the individuals through an NGO partner.

BOYCE