C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003255

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2116
TAGS: PREF PGOV PREL PHUM KNEP KS TH DPRK
SUBJECT: STATUS ON THREE NORTH KOREANS

REF: A. BANGKOK 3226

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


1. (U) This is an action request. See para. 6.


2. (C) On Saturday, May 27 after three North Korean (NK)
women approached the Embassy Bangkok seeking resettlement to
the United States, RefCoord accompanied them to UNHCR. That
same day, UNHCR South Korean secoundee interviewed the three
women at the UNHCR office. The secondee verified the women's
North Korean nationality and their interest in going to the
U.S. After these interviews, the three women were escorted
to the Bangkok Refugee Center (BRC),a non-governmental
organization funded by UNHCR to temporarily house at risk
refugees.


3. (C) Biographical information on the three women follows:

Name: Yang Un Mi
DOB: April 11, 1980
Sister to Yang Un Ju

Name: Yang Un Ju
DOB: May 13, 1984
Sister to Yang Un Mi. Both sisters reported in their UNHCR
interview that their parents are currently in the Immigration
Detention Center in Bangkok.

Name: Hon Myong He
DOB: July 6, 1967


4. (C) Refugee Route of Travel: From the interviews of the
South Korean secondee, it appears that the three NK women
hired a broker to organize their travel by train and boat
from China all the way to Thailand. They first crossed from
China to Burma and then into Thailand via Chiangrai. The
women reportedly learned of the previous six cases settled to
the U.S. en route to Thailand and consequently decided to
approach the U.S. Embassy. They took the overnight bus from
Chiangrai to Bangkok and upon arrival at the bus terminal in
Bangkok took a taxi to the Embassy by repeatedly telling the
taxi driver in English, "American Embassy."


5. (C) Other Information: On Tuesday, May 30 Deputy RefCoord
notified the Overseas Processing Entity (OPE) and DHS Bangkok
office of the new NK refugees. OPE is prepared to begin
screening as soon as necessary. Deputy RefCoord is looking
for additional interpreters among the Embassy community who
may be available to assist with interpreting given that the
interpreter previously used will not be available until next
week. RefCoord accompanied by UNHCR staff visited the BRC
and briefly met with the three North Korean women. The women
appeared healthy and well cared for by the BRC. The BRC
facility is small and has capacity to house only 10 refugees.


6. (C) Action Request: Please provide guidance on whether the
USG wants post to take further steps in processing these
cases for U.S. resettlement. If approval is forthcoming,
RefCoord will immediately seek Thai government approval and
ROK background vettings.
BOYCE