Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MOSCOW6307
2006-06-13 10:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
MFA ON PROCESSING OF NORTH KOREANS IN RUSSIA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHMO #6307 1641023 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 131023Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7531 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4057 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2597 RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR 0213 RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 0682 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4858
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 006307
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2016
TAGS: PREF KN KS RS
SUBJECT: MFA ON PROCESSING OF NORTH KOREANS IN RUSSIA
REF: STATE 93689
Classified By: Political-Minister Counselor Kirk Augustine.
Reasons 1.4 (b and d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 006307
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2016
TAGS: PREF KN KS RS
SUBJECT: MFA ON PROCESSING OF NORTH KOREANS IN RUSSIA
REF: STATE 93689
Classified By: Political-Minister Counselor Kirk Augustine.
Reasons 1.4 (b and d).
1. (C) Deputy Political Minister-Counselor delivered reftel
points to Mikhail Lebedev, Acting Director of the MFA
Department of Humanitarian Cooperation and Human Rights, on
June 13. Lebedev said the GOR would have to consider the
U.S. request before responding officially.
2. (C) Lebedev said that thus far, North Korean asylum
seekers in Russia have gone only to South Korea, and the
number of cases annually has been very few. Asked how many
North Koreans might be in Russia, Lebedev said there were no
precise statistics, but there could be as many as 10,000.
Almost all of them were working in timber processing as part
of a special labor migration agreement with the DPRK, and
very few had any problems. Lebedev asked for a copy of the
North Korean Human Rights Act (which post will provide to
him) and suggested that if the GOR agreed to permit U.S.
processing of any cases, it would be through an informal
understanding, not any formal arrangement.
BURNS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2016
TAGS: PREF KN KS RS
SUBJECT: MFA ON PROCESSING OF NORTH KOREANS IN RUSSIA
REF: STATE 93689
Classified By: Political-Minister Counselor Kirk Augustine.
Reasons 1.4 (b and d).
1. (C) Deputy Political Minister-Counselor delivered reftel
points to Mikhail Lebedev, Acting Director of the MFA
Department of Humanitarian Cooperation and Human Rights, on
June 13. Lebedev said the GOR would have to consider the
U.S. request before responding officially.
2. (C) Lebedev said that thus far, North Korean asylum
seekers in Russia have gone only to South Korea, and the
number of cases annually has been very few. Asked how many
North Koreans might be in Russia, Lebedev said there were no
precise statistics, but there could be as many as 10,000.
Almost all of them were working in timber processing as part
of a special labor migration agreement with the DPRK, and
very few had any problems. Lebedev asked for a copy of the
North Korean Human Rights Act (which post will provide to
him) and suggested that if the GOR agreed to permit U.S.
processing of any cases, it would be through an informal
understanding, not any formal arrangement.
BURNS