Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL3077
2006-09-07 08:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:  

ROK HAS NO OBJECTION TO REFUGEE PROCESSING IN

Tags:  PREF PREL KS KN RS 
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VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #3077 2500811
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 070811Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0130
INFO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 6248
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1187
RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI PRIORITY 1995
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 7491
RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR PRIORITY 1340
RUEHVN/AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE PRIORITY 1086
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1826
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 003077 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2015
TAGS: PREF PREL KS KN RS
SUBJECT: ROK HAS NO OBJECTION TO REFUGEE PROCESSING IN
VIETNAM

REF: STATE 146849

Classified By: POL Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 003077

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2015
TAGS: PREF PREL KS KN RS
SUBJECT: ROK HAS NO OBJECTION TO REFUGEE PROCESSING IN
VIETNAM

REF: STATE 146849

Classified By: POL Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) On September 6, poloff informed the ROKG that the USG
will be discussing its interest in processing North Korean
asylum seekers for U.S. resettlement on a case-by-case basis
with the Government of Vietnam (GVN),to Yu Joon-ha, new
Director of MOFAT's Inter-Korean Policy Division. Poloff
said that the U.S. hoped that the ROKG would convey to the
GVN that the ROKG has no objections to U.S. participation in
the resettlement of North Koreans, if the GVN approaches the
ROKG on this issue.


2. (C) Yu said that the ROKG policy on North Korean refugees
remained that refugees should be given the chance to be
resettled in accordance with their personal wishes, whether
in the ROK or in a third country. Therefore, the ROKG does
not object to the USG seeking an understanding with the GVN
on North Korean refugees. Yu requested to be informed about
the GVN response to the USG request.


3. (C) More generally, Yu, said that the ROK had accepted
over 1,000 North Koreans refugees as of end-July, and would
likely accept more than 2,000 during 2006. He also said that
the ROKG was aware of growing numbers of North Korean
refugees going to South East Asia recently. Yu cautioned
that the number of North Korean refugees seeking to go to the
United States could increase quickly if people learn that the
USG is willing to process refugees in additional countries.
Noting the ROKG's open door policy for North Korean refugees,
he said that the ROKG was developing contingency plans in
case the number of refugees seeking entry into the ROK were
to increase significantly, but he provided no further
information.
VERSHBOW