US embassy cable - 05GENEVA2484

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 GENEVA 002484 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PRM FOR ANE AND ADMISSIONS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2010 
TAGS: PREF, PREL, PHUM, EAID, CH, KN, UNCHR 
SUBJECT: UNHCR EXCOM #5:  SEEKING BETTER PROTECTION FOR 
NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES 
 
REF: GENEVA 2465 
 
Classified By: RMA Counselor Piper Campbell; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  Summary: On the margins of UNHCR,s Executive 
Committee meeting, Acting PRM A/S Rich Greene raised in 
meetings with Chinese Mission Counselor and UNHCR staff the 
fate of North Korean asylum seekers in China.  Chinese 
concerns over stability in northeast Asia and successful 
resolution of the six-party talks make progress on this issue 
unlikely for the time being.  China also blames South 
Korea,s inability to handle a large influx of migrants as 
the reason for China,s slow approval of travel to South 
Korea by North Koreans waiting in diplomatic compounds. 
UNHCR officials say they would like to be helpful in 
providing resettlement opportunities for North Koreans, but 
maintain North Koreans are not refugees if they choose to 
claim South Korean citizenship.  UN High Commissioner for 
Refugees Guterres plans to travel to Beijing in early 2006. 
UNHCR,s Head of Delegation in Beijing continues to be denied 
permission to travel to the northeast, but plans to raise 
with Chinese officials the case of a North Korean woman who 
was persecuted upon her forced return to China and to discuss 
with China and South Korea how humanitarian and development 
aid can be targeted to reduce border crossings.   End 
Summary. 
 
2. (C)  In an October 5 meeting with Chinese Mission 
Counselor La Yifan, Greene pressed the PRC to grant access 
to the border area near North Korea to humanitarian 
organizations and to facilitate the movement to South Korea 
of North Korean asylum seekers transiting China.  While 
expressing understanding for the situation China finds 
itself in, Greene said it is hard to understand why 
assistance to those in need would threaten Chinese 
security.  Greene asked that China reduce delays in 
processing North Koreans for onward travel to South Korea, 
particularly those in diplomatic compounds. 
 
3.  (C)  La responded that Beijing's primary interest 
regarding relations with DPRK is stability in north-east 
Asia and successful resolution of the six-party talks on 
nuclear weapons.  He said the PRC is concerned that 
assistance to North Koreans in China would exert a 
pull-effect on potential "illegal border crossers." 
Granting UNHCR access would be particularly sensitive, he 
said.  On North Koreans waiting in diplomatic compounds for 
permission to travel to South Korea, La asserted that the 
slow pace is due at least 
in part to ROK inability to handle a large influx of 
migrants.  Admitting that the affair has not been handled 
perfectly by Beijing, La seemed to allege that China is 
taking the heat for a slow down Seoul has requested.  He 
pledged to convey U.S. concerns to Beijing. 
 
4.  (C)  During an October 3 meeting with UNHCR's Asia 
Director Janet Lim, Greene reiterated the importance of 
this issue to the U.S. and our interest in receiving refugee 
resettlement referrals of North Koreans.  He noted 
the impending State Department report to Congress and said we 
are looking for an intensified UNHCR effort.  He 
expressed the hope that UNHCR would move quickly on the 
construction of a (partially U.S.-funded) refugee reception 
center at the Mongolian border. 
 
5. (C)  Lim responded that UNHCR wants to be helpful, but 
must not take action that imperils the informal underground 
railroad by which many North Koreans ultimately gain asylum 
in South Korea.  What UNHCR can do depends on how much 
freedom it is given by the host country.  In China 
particularly, UNHCR is trying to strengthen its dialogue with 
the government and to obtain access to the border region. 
The High Commissioner plans to travel to Beijing early in 
2006.  Lim and Head of International Protection Erika Feller 
visited recently and hope to go back 
together soon, perhaps to the border area.  UNHCR's Beijing 
Head of Delegation Michel Gabaudan is still trying to 
obtain permission to travel north.  Lim stressed a point she 
has raised with U.S. officials in the past: North 
Koreans qualify for South Korean citizenship; while they may 
have valid fears of persecution (especially those who 
are forcibly returned to North Korea), they are not refugees 
when or if they choose to claim their South Korean 
citizenship. 
 
6. (C) The plight of North Koreans was also raised by PRM/ANE 
Office Director Richard Albright in a follow-up meeting with 
Lim October 11.  Like Greene, Albright urged UNHCR to refer 
appropriate cases to the U.S.  Lim repeated the same points 
as in the October 3 meeting.  She also added two new 
elements: (1) Beijing Head of Delegation Gaubadan plans to 
raise with the Chinese the case of a North Korean woman who 
had a limb amputated after a forced return.  Gaubadan will 
stress to the Chinese that this proves that persecution 
occurs.  UNHCR has urged the Chinese to pressure the North 
Koreans not to punish those forcibly returned.  (2) UNHCR has 
urged the Chinese and South Koreans to look at how 
humanitarian and development aid can be targeted at the 
specific provinces from which most border crossers come. 
Addressing food and economic needs in place could reduce 
border crossings, Lim asserted. 
Cassel