ROKG OFFICIALLY RESPONDS TO USG NORTH KOREAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001108

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR CHA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL KS KN
SUBJECT: ROKG OFFICIALLY RESPONDS TO USG NORTH KOREAN

REFUGEE STRATEGY

REF: A. SEOUL 772

B. SEOUL 682

C. STATE 31610

D. SEOUL 471

E. SEOUL 166

F. SEOUL 155

G. STATE 4712

Classified By: A/POL Sung Y. Kim. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).


1. (C) On April 4, Kim Ki-woong, Director of the
Inter-Korean Policy Division at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade, presented the official ROKG response to
our ref g demarche seeking support for the USG North Korean
refugee strategy. The ROKG response (reprinted in paragraph
3) centered on three points: (1) should a specific case arise
and if requested by the USG, the ROKG would assist UNHCR in
confirming the identity of the asylum seeker; (2) if asked by
host governments, the ROKG would say it had no objection to
North Korean asylum seekers being admitted for U.S.
resettlement of their own free will; and (3) in the case of a
North Korean not accepted by the U.S. admission program, the
ROKG would continue to accept individuals who wished to
resettle in South Korea according to its principles and
procedures. Kim emphasized that Seoul, although it generally
accepts any North Korean wishing resettlement in the South,
would continue to make its own decision on individual cases
to demonstrate that its policy was separate from the U.S.
program. He also apologized for the delay in delivering the
ROKG response, saying that many ROKG officials had become
involved due to the sensitivity of the issue.


2. (C) Director Kim reconfirmed that Seoul preferred to
maintain the existing framework of bilateral meetings between
South Korea, the United States, and UNHCR. Kim proposed
holding the next USG-ROKG consultations on April 19. Poloff
reiterated that Washington wanted these meeting to be
productive and comprehensive and had earlier suggested at
least two days of consultations. Poloff also provided Kim
with a draft proposed agenda and draft operational plan for
processing North Korean refugees in Thailand for ROKG
consideration. Kim, however, reiterated that he thought it
would not take more than a day of meetings. When asked about
a possible conflict with inter-Korean ministerial meetings
rumored in the press to be held around April 20, Kim said he
expected inter-Korean talks to begin on April 25, so there
would be no conflict with the USG-ROKG bilateral.


3. (SBU) TEXT OF ROKG RESPONSE TO USG NORTH KOREAN REFUGEE
STRATEGY:

We are fully aware of the efforts by the US government to
accept North Korean Asylum seekers who wish to resettle in
the US. With regard to the admission of North Korean asylum
seeks to the US, our primary concern is to ensure the safety
of the North Korean refugees and safeguard the mechanisms we
are currently operating for their resettlement. We
appreciate your consideration of our position in this process.

Our position regarding your proposal and requests is as
follows:

-- Concerning the admission of North Korean asylum seekers to
the US, we understand that all the necessary procedures such
as consultations with the host government, investigation of
the asylum seekers hoping to resettle in the US, and the
sending of those eligible to the US, are being conducted
under US control.

--- As you have already made clear, we would ask that
all necessary procedural measures regarding admission to the
US be carried out in confidentiality, with the minimum of
publicity and the greatest possible discretion.

-- Should a specific case arise, and the US requests that the
ROK government provide its assistance through the UNHCR for
identity checks such as verification of the authenticity of
North Korean asylum seekers, the ROK will cooperate to the
extent possible.

-- In the event that host governments inquire about our
position on the US admission of North Korean asylum seekers,
we will respond in the following manner:

--- When a North Korean asylum seeker is admitted to
the US of his or her own free will, the ROK government will
raise no objections.

--- In order to prevent these steps from disrupting the
existing procedures for the resettlement of North Korean
asylum seekers, we ask that all relevant processes and
procedures be conducted under the strictest confidentiality.

--- (Regarding whether those North Korean asylum
seekers hoping to resettle in the US but who did not obtain a
successful outcome in the examination process may be accepted
into South Korea.) Our policy on North Korean asylum seekers
is that, in accordance with out own relevant criteria and
procedures, we accept all North Korean who wish, of their own
free will, to resettle in South Korea. The results of the US
screening process on a North Korean asylum seeker would have
no bearing on the process of our reaching a decision on
whether or not to receive them into ROK.

-- Regarding the modalities for the meeting between Korea,
the US and the UNHCR, we wish to maintain the existing
framework of the bilateral meeting. We hope to hold an
ROK-US bilateral meeting in Seoul in April. END TEXT.
VERSHBOW