Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SEOUL1816
2007-06-14 07:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
ROKG PREFERS SEPARATE DEMARCHES TO THAILAND ON
VZCZCXYZ0014 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #1816 1650748 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 140748Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5027 INFO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 6705 RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP//
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001816
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO EAP/K, EAP/MLS, AND PRM/ANE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
TAGS: PREF PREL KS KN TH
SUBJECT: ROKG PREFERS SEPARATE DEMARCHES TO THAILAND ON
DPRK REFUGEES
REF: STATE 80442
Classified By: A/POL Brian McFeeters. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001816
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO EAP/K, EAP/MLS, AND PRM/ANE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
TAGS: PREF PREL KS KN TH
SUBJECT: ROKG PREFERS SEPARATE DEMARCHES TO THAILAND ON
DPRK REFUGEES
REF: STATE 80442
Classified By: A/POL Brian McFeeters. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) On May 12, Park Ji-hyun, Deputy Director of MOFAT's
Inter-Korean Policy Division, expressed appreciation that the
USG supported the ROKG's efforts to resist the Royal Thailand
Government's proposal that all North Korean asylum seekers
travel from Thailand to South Korea before being processed
for possible third country resettlement. However, Seoul's
view was that it would be better to pursue separate demarches
to avoid the perception of "ganging up" on the RTG, which
could complicate USG and ROKG refugee pipelines, Park
explained. The ROKG preferred that the USG approach the RTG,
bilaterally, to urge that approved North Korean applicants be
allowed to leave directly for the United States. She also
suggested revising the draft U.S. points to Thailand (reftel)
to reflect separate demarches.
2. (C) Asked if the ROKG would demarche the RTG soon, Park
noted that Seoul needed to reach an inter-agency consensus on
next steps. Given Seoul's preference for separate demarches,
timing of the USG's approach to Thailand need not be tied to
ROKG action, she concluded.
STANTON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO EAP/K, EAP/MLS, AND PRM/ANE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
TAGS: PREF PREL KS KN TH
SUBJECT: ROKG PREFERS SEPARATE DEMARCHES TO THAILAND ON
DPRK REFUGEES
REF: STATE 80442
Classified By: A/POL Brian McFeeters. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) On May 12, Park Ji-hyun, Deputy Director of MOFAT's
Inter-Korean Policy Division, expressed appreciation that the
USG supported the ROKG's efforts to resist the Royal Thailand
Government's proposal that all North Korean asylum seekers
travel from Thailand to South Korea before being processed
for possible third country resettlement. However, Seoul's
view was that it would be better to pursue separate demarches
to avoid the perception of "ganging up" on the RTG, which
could complicate USG and ROKG refugee pipelines, Park
explained. The ROKG preferred that the USG approach the RTG,
bilaterally, to urge that approved North Korean applicants be
allowed to leave directly for the United States. She also
suggested revising the draft U.S. points to Thailand (reftel)
to reflect separate demarches.
2. (C) Asked if the ROKG would demarche the RTG soon, Park
noted that Seoul needed to reach an inter-agency consensus on
next steps. Given Seoul's preference for separate demarches,
timing of the USG's approach to Thailand need not be tied to
ROKG action, she concluded.
STANTON