THAI GOVERNMENT PERMITS 16 NORTH KOREANS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 005693 SIPDIS SIPDIS GENEVA FOR RMA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2016 TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV PHUM KNEP KS TH SUBJECT: THAI GOVERNMENT PERMITS 16 NORTH KOREANS TO RESETTLE IN U.S. REF: HIGGINS - ARVIZU EMAIL: 9/15/06 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR SUSAN SUTTON, REASON 1.4 (B,D). ¶1. (C) On September 15, Deputy Refcoord spoke to MFA contact and received confirmation that the RTG had approved the processing of 16 interested NKs (ref e-mail). The RTG did not have a specific list of 16 in mind and was prepared to accept our proposal, as long as the list comprised NKs who had arrived in Thailand by August 1. When informed that the first 16 NKs on our list included two who had arrived on August 2, he said that this would be acceptable. ¶2. (C) UNHCR with RefCoord Office coordination maintains a running list of interested NKs. With RTG permission to process 16 NKs, Deputy RefCoord assessed the list based on a first-expressed-interest (and accordingly registered with UNHCR) first-served basis, family unification and other vulnerable considerations. Based on this selection methodology, we recommend the following NKs for processing. These are, as it turns out, chronologically the first 16 to express interest. BEGIN LIST: From Bangkok Refugee Center and recently move to the YWCA, (USG is paying housing costs). 1.Ms. Yang Eun Mi DOB 11 April 1986 2.Ms. Yang Eun Ju DOB 13 May 1984 (both are sisters) 3.Ms. Hong Myeong Hee DOB 06 July 1967 From Bangkok Christian Guest House, (USG is paying housing costs). 4.Mr. Bek Eun Cheol DOB 03 Dec 1984 5.Mr. Ree Hyo Hak DOB 21 April 1952 From Immigration Detention Center. 6.Ms. Kim Weon Ok DOB 28 March 1977 7.Ms. Kim Seon Sook DOB 30 Oct 1961 (mother of sisters at YWCA) 8.Ms. Kim Yeong Ok DOB 30 Oct 1965 9.Ms. Kim Byeol DOB 16 March 1990 From Korean NGO Housing 10.Ms. Kim In Soon DOB 21 April 1978 11.Ms. Choe Eun Jeong DOB 10 Jan 1981 12.Ms. Hyeon Ah DOB 26 June 1981 13.Ms. Oh Mi Ok DOB 27 Feb 1982 14.Ms. Kim Gwang Ok DOB 01 Aug 1979 15.Ms. Moon Ok Shil DOB 25 Feb 1976 (mother of daughter below) 16.Ms. Shin Hyeon Mi DOB 06 May 2000 ¶3. (C) Deputy RefCoord has requested UNHCR coordinate ROK background vetting of the 16 NKs to begin next week. Accordingly, the Overseas Processing Entity (OPE) will plan pre-screening, medical and DHS interview schedules for rapid processing. RefCoord office will continue to update PRM on status of processing. ¶4. (C) Post appreciates Department efforts in obtaining RTG permission to resettle NK refugees and remain hopeful that the RTG will continue to permit U.S. resettlement of NK refugees who expressed interest. We note that there are currently 30 additional NKs in Bangkok who have expressed a desire to be resettled in the US, a number that is steadily increasing. ARVIZU