ONE NORTH KOREAN APPROACHED EMBASSSY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 004445 SIPDIS SIPDIS GENEVA FOR RMA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2016 TAGS: PREF PGOV PREL PHUM KNEP KS TH SUBJECT: ONE NORTH KOREAN APPROACHED EMBASSSY REF: HONNOLD-PRM EMAIL 7/17/06 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR SUSAN SUTTON, REASON 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See para.6 ¶2. (C) On Monday, July 17 at midday, a young woman, accompanied by an associate of Reverend Chun Ki-won of the Evangelical Movement for North Korea Durihana Mission, approached the Embassy and asked to be resettled in the United States. Per usual procedures, the Regional Security Officer obtained biodata and asked security-related questions. Refugee Coordinator then explained USG policy to the woman and notified UNHCR to request nationality determination and resettlement interest confirmation. On Thursday, July 20, UNHCR conducted and completed the interview and reported that the woman is of North Korean nationality and she does express an interest to resettle in the U.S. ¶3. (C) The woman's biodata follows: Name: Kim, In Sun (a.k.a. Kim, Ok Kum) In the identity card she is holding, her name in Korean is Kim, Mi Hua and in Chinese is Jin, Mei Hua. Sex: Female DOB: April 21, 1978 Left the DPRK for China in 1996 ¶4. (C) The woman arrived in Thailand the night before she and Rev. Chun's associate approached the Embassy. The associate is name Mr. Choi Sang-jun. He is an ROK citizen, but has spent a number of years in the U.S. including studying at university. Ms. Kim reported hearing about the U.S. resettlement program from the Evangelical Movement for North Korea's website. In May 2006, she contacted Rev. Chun Ki-won who asked if she would like to go to the U.S., Mongolia or Russia. She told him that she wanted to go to the U.S. Rev. Chun then advised her to arrange passage to Thailand. Ms. Kim said she flew on Thai Airline to Thailand as part of a group of 14 Chinese tourists. She has a Chinese identity card that she apparently used to obtain a Chinese passport. The Chinese agent who helped arrange her travel, which she reported cost about USD700, kept the passport. ¶5. (C) Ms. Kim is currently staying at the same house arranged by Rev. Chun for the three woman and one young girl whom he brought to the Embassy on June 23. ¶6. (C) Please provide guidance on whether post should take further steps in processing the case for U.S. resettlement. ARVIZU