Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL1622
2006-05-15 07:59:00
SECRET
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:  

LOCAL UNHCR REQUESTS STOP TO NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM

Tags:  PREF PREL PHUM AMGT KS 
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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