US embassy cable - 05HANOI1400

UNCLAS HANOI 001400 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, ASEC, KN, TH, VM, DPRK 
SUBJECT:  DPRK Asylum-seekers in Hanoi:  Update 
 
Ref: A. Hanoi 1373; B. Hanoi 136 
 
1. (SBU) Visiting UNHCR Regional Representative Hasim Utkan 
and Vietnam Country Representative Vu Anh Son provided 
additional information on the asylum attempt by seven North 
Koreans in the Thai Embassy (Ref A).  Utkan, in Hanoi to 
meet with visiting PRM A/S Dewey and GVN officials (septel), 
was asked by his headquarters to "see what he could do," at 
the request of the RTG.  Utkan met for lunch June 10 with 
Thai Ambassador Krit Kraichitti, who reported that his 
Government was nervous about how to respond to the position 
the GVN initially appeared to staking out, namely, that the 
seven asylum-seekers were illegal migrants and had to be 
turned over to Vietnamese authorities. 
 
2. (SBU) During Utkan's subsequent meeting with MFA Senior 
Vice Minister Le Cong Phung, the GVN seemed to take a more 
conciliatory line, noting that the GVN would facilitate the 
seven's departure as long as the Thais provide travel 
documentation similar to what the French and Swedish 
Governments did in December (Ref B).  Senior VFM Phung also 
reportedly told Utkan that it "may be possible" for the 
UNHCR to play a role.  During A/S Dewey's own meeting with 
Vice Foreign Minister Vu Dzung, the Ambassador urged the GVN 
to resolve this matter quickly and humanely. 
 
3. (SBU) Utkan reported that he was able to sit in on the 
June 10 interview of the seven North Koreans conducted by an 
officer from the ROK Embassy.  The group (one family of four 
and three individuals) want to travel to the ROK.  According 
to the UNHCR's Son, this response, and the atmospherics of 
the interview -- they seemed "very frightened" -- were 
enough for the UNHCR's "first assessment."  In a later 
conversation with Emboff, the Thai Ambassador said he would 
"look to the ROK" for finding a solution to this problem. 
 
4. (SBU) ROK Embassy Political First Secretary Lee Kang-kuk 
reported June 13 that he is in regular contact with his Thai 
counterparts and that there will be another interview the 
afternoon of June 13 to "establish the identities of the 
seven."  The UNHCR's Son would also be present.  Lee noted 
that, as far as he knows, this is the first time the UNHCR 
has played this kind of role and the ROKG "welcomes it." 
The ROKG agrees with the GVN's position that the Thais will 
have to issue travel documents to the seven to facilitate 
their departure.  (Note:  Utkan told us June 10 that his 
understanding is that the RTG does not issue travel 
documents to non-Thais.  End Note.) 
 
MARINE