Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL1622
2006-05-15 07:59:00
SECRET
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
LOCAL UNHCR REQUESTS STOP TO NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM
VZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #1622 1350759 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 150759Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7887 INFO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 6033 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0638 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 7306 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0718 RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR 1220 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1782 RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR
S E C R E T SEOUL 001622
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO RMA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM AMGT KS
SUBJECT: LOCAL UNHCR REQUESTS STOP TO NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM
SEEKERS REFERRALS
REF: A. STATE 25824
B. 05 STATE 174716
Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
S E C R E T SEOUL 001622
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO RMA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM AMGT KS
SUBJECT: LOCAL UNHCR REQUESTS STOP TO NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM
SEEKERS REFERRALS
REF: A. STATE 25824
B. 05 STATE 174716
Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (U) Action Request: See paragraph 3.
2. (SBU) On May 12, the Acting Representative of UNHCR in
the Republic of Korea, Michele Manca di Nissa, informed
poloff that over the past week 3-5 ROK citizens, apparently
resettled from North Korea, had approached UNHCR requesting
asylum in the United States claiming that they suffered from
oppression in South Korea. They also claimed that they were
referred to UNHCR by the Embassy. Manca di Nissa said he was
calling Canadian, U.S., and New Zealand Embassies to request
that they desist from referring South Korean citizens to
UNHCR because its mandate did not extend to the ROK, adding
that "there was nothing UNHCR could do" for South Korean
citizens in the ROK seeking asylum elsewhere. In light of
media accounts of the USG having accepted North Koreans via
Southeast Asia and a Los Angeles court granting protection to
a former North Korean who had obtained ROK citizenship, he
was concerned the number of North Koreans living in South
Korea but seeking asylum elsewhere would increase.
3. (S) While we do not know the particulars of the recent
incidents mentioned by UNHCR, Embassy procedure, per reftels,
has been to refer walk-ins seeking asylum or refugee status
to UNHCR. Embassy requests clarification whether we should
continue to refer such cases to UNHCR.
MINTON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO RMA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM AMGT KS
SUBJECT: LOCAL UNHCR REQUESTS STOP TO NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM
SEEKERS REFERRALS
REF: A. STATE 25824
B. 05 STATE 174716
Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (U) Action Request: See paragraph 3.
2. (SBU) On May 12, the Acting Representative of UNHCR in
the Republic of Korea, Michele Manca di Nissa, informed
poloff that over the past week 3-5 ROK citizens, apparently
resettled from North Korea, had approached UNHCR requesting
asylum in the United States claiming that they suffered from
oppression in South Korea. They also claimed that they were
referred to UNHCR by the Embassy. Manca di Nissa said he was
calling Canadian, U.S., and New Zealand Embassies to request
that they desist from referring South Korean citizens to
UNHCR because its mandate did not extend to the ROK, adding
that "there was nothing UNHCR could do" for South Korean
citizens in the ROK seeking asylum elsewhere. In light of
media accounts of the USG having accepted North Koreans via
Southeast Asia and a Los Angeles court granting protection to
a former North Korean who had obtained ROK citizenship, he
was concerned the number of North Koreans living in South
Korea but seeking asylum elsewhere would increase.
3. (S) While we do not know the particulars of the recent
incidents mentioned by UNHCR, Embassy procedure, per reftels,
has been to refer walk-ins seeking asylum or refugee status
to UNHCR. Embassy requests clarification whether we should
continue to refer such cases to UNHCR.
MINTON