(SBU) NORTH KOREAN CITIZEN APPRACHES EMBASSY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 004852 SIPDIS SIPDIS BANGKOK FOR REFCOORD, GENEVA FOR RMA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2011 TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV PHUM RP KS TH CM SUBJECT: (SBU) NORTH KOREAN CITIZEN APPRACHES EMBASSY MANILA FOR HELP WITH RESETTLEMENT REQUEST REF: A. E-MAIL MANILA(ROWAN) - EMB BANGKOK(HONNOLD/ADLER) 11/29 AND 11/09/2006 ¶B. STATE 25824 ¶C. 05 STATE 174716 Classified By: DCM Paul W. Jones. Reason: 1.4 (d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 8. ¶2. (C) On November 9, a North Korean woman, Ms. Hyae Yeong PAK, approached the Embassy's outdoor reception area to express interest in resettlement in the United States. Emboffs also interviewed Ms. Pak, using guidance provided by PRM. (She was accompanied by Mr. Ki Won Chun, a pastor based in South Korea, as well as two members of the South Korean family who are now taking care of her.) Subject showed a "UNHCR Certificate of Registration" issued by UNHCR Bangkok on August 21, 2006. She said that she had come to Manila because her stay in Bangkok was "about to expire," and that she hoped that her case for resettlement would proceed more quickly in Manila. (Refugee Coordinator office at Embassy Bangkok has confirmed that she was under consideration for resettlement to the U.S.; however, she was not/not among the 16 North Koreans approved for processing by the Royal Thai Government.) ¶3. (C) Per reftel insructions, Embassy Manila then referred Ms. Pak to UNHCR in Manila. Emboff followed up with direct contact with UNHCR representative Atty Rico Salcedo on November 9, and learned that UNHCR had already put Ms. Pak in touch with its implementing NGO, Community and Family Services International (CFSI). On November 14, Ms. Pak met directly with UNHCR and, according to Atty Salcedo, clearly expressed an interest in resettling in the U.S. Ms. Pak continues to stay with the same South Korean family. On November 27, Emboff spoke with a member of this family, who reported that she is doing fine, apart from her continuing interest in resettlement. ¶4. (SBU) Ms. Pak entered the Philippines on a Republic of Korea passport, issued in another name, which had been photo-substituted with Ms. Pak,s photograph. Ms. Pak has since disclosed this fact to the UNHCR. ¶5. (C) Biographic Information: Ms. Hyae Yeong Pak (DOB: 5 Jan 1980) -- Ms. Pak said she was in Bangkok for three months. She had been in China for five years prior to her arrival in Bangkok. Prior to fleeing to China, Ms. Pak said she lived in a border town in North Korea and worked in a call center screening incoming phone calls. She escaped to China twice, each time because of severe hunger. On her first escape, she stayed with a Chinese farmer. Though not married, she lived with him as his wife. This farmer had a falling out with a neighbor who then turned both their names over to the police. He was fined and she was sent back to North Korea, where she found that her mother and father had been sent to a mountain camp. She was easily identified because her Chinese language skills were so poor. -- After her second escape, she worked in a bar. She stayed with this job in China for about 5 years. She said she had virtually no contact with other NK refugees. She finally bought the passport and was able to leave. She said that a 5-year wait for a passport is relatively short. During her time in China, she had sporadic contact with relatives in North Korea. ¶6. (C) Action request: The Embassy requests guidance on whether post and / or Embassy Bangkok (Refugee Coordinator) should take further steps in processing the case of Ms. Kim. ¶7. (U) This message has been coordinated with Embassy Bangkok. KENNEY