This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002120 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PDAS RICHARD GREENE, PRM FOR DAS RYAN, PRM/A RUSCH, PRM/A 
SHEEHAN, 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2016 
TAGS: PHUM PREF TH KN KS DPRK
SUBJECT: EMBASSY BANGKOK NORTH KOREAN RESPONSE PLAN 
 
REF: (A) SUTTON/RAPSON E-MAIL 4/7/06 (B) RAPSON/ADLER 
     E-MAIL 4/7/06 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR SUSAN M. SUTTON.  REASON: 1.4 (C) 
 
¶1.  (U)  This is an action request.  Please see action 
request para 6. 
 
¶2.   (C)  Summary: Deputy Chief of Mission and Political 
Counselor, along with a team of USG members who will have a 
role in assisting NKs at the Embassy, met on April 10 to 
discuss details of the walk-in operational plan.  The Embassy 
 NK response team has been briefed to respond to the 
situation in varying case scenarios.  Post requests PRM 
assistance in providing the -- Statement Concerning the U.S. 
Refugee Admissions Program -- in Korean and English as soon 
as possible, authorizing IOM expenditure to house NKs, and 
sending TDY Korean speakers for translation.  The Thai 
"Songkran" New Year holiday is a week-long celebration.  Most 
RTG government offices, businesses, international 
organizations and embassies, including AmEmbassy Bangkok, 
will be close on Thursday, April 13 and Friday, April 14 and 
it may be difficult to contact the RTG and the ROK during 
this period.  End summary. 
 
¶3.    (C)  USG NORTH KOREAN (NK) RESPONSE TEAM PREPARATIONS 
 
      ¶A.    The RSO and local guards are briefed and prepared 
to direct and speak to NKs at a comfortable location 
to the side of the Embassy main gate.  Taking into 
consideration rain and heat the location is sheltered 
and shaded.  Water will be available.  Guards will be 
provided with Korean-language cards to assist NKs 
until Embassy interpreter arrives on the scene. 
 
      ¶B.    Post has identified USG interpreters and they 
will be able to assist over the holiday.  UNHCR also offered 
assistance from their ROK-seconded Korean speaker if 
required. 
 
      ¶C.    Media issues:  Embassy PAO will address any media 
issues that arise and has prepared talking points.  Safe house 
management and staff have been instructed to refer all media 
inquires to PAO. 
 
      ¶D.    Embassy NK response team has been briefed on 
transport arrangements to safehouse.  Thai language taxi 
cards directing NK to safe house are available. If needed, 
Embassy personnel will accompany NKs to safe house. 
 
      ¶E.    Safe house options:  IOM has reserved space at a 
guesthouse relatively close to the Embassy.  The safe house 
will provide NKs with food and other supplies during their 
residence.  Guesthouse staff has experience in housing 
transit refugees en route to a resettlement country. 
 
      ¶F.    UNHCR will be open on Friday, April 14 and have 
personnel on stand-by to visit NKs at the safe house in order 
to issue them UNHCR POC protection letter, if required, and 
begin process of resettlement country referral. 
 
      ¶G.    All USG officers present have been issued each 
other's cell phone numbers and are on standby to respond if 
this issue arises over the Thai holiday weekend. 
 
¶4.  (C)  THAI NEW YEAR HOLIDAY PERIOD 
 
The Thai "Songkran" New Year holiday is a week-long 
celebration.  Consequently, most RTG government offices, 
businesses, international organizations and embassies, 
including AmEmbassy Bangkok, will be closed on Thursday, 
April 13 and Friday, April 14 and will re-open again on 
Monday, April 17th.  Due to internal planning and direct 
coordination with UNHCR and IOM, Post is prepared for NK 
refugees during this holiday period.  Embassy NK response 
team members have been instructed to be as forward leaning as 
possible in dealing with this group.  However, given that it 
is a major holiday in Thailand, it may be difficult to 
contact the RTG and the ROK during this period.  It should be 
expected that coordination may be slower over the holiday 
than the normal work week. 
 
¶5.  (C)  MINIMAL MEDIA ATTENTION DESIRED 
 
Post emphasizes the need for minimal media attention and 
request PRM to inform the NGO group who may be accompanying 
NKs to Bangkok to discourage media coverage.  Any media 
attention may jeopardize the existing NK resettlement program 
to South Korea in not just Thailand but other countries where 
NK seek refuge.  Considering the RTG and ROK's sensitivities 
on this matter, it is crucial that USG assistance to NK 
refugee proceeds as discreetly as possible. 
 
¶6.  (C)  ACTION REQUEST FOR PRM. 
 
Post requests from PRM the Korean translation of the 
Statement Concerning the U.S. Refugee Admission program as 
soon as possible.  UNHCR is briefed on the statement content 
and will require both language copies to forward to NKs to 
ensure that they are accurately informed of their 
resettlement options.  Additionally, if NKs are to use IOM's 
safe house arrangement, IOM has requested that PRM issue a 
document authorizing IOM's expenditure on room and board for 
their accounting purposes.  A cost breakdown can be provided 
if required, but it is estimated to cost approximately 20 USD 
per person per day.  Three meals a day are included in this 
estimate.  Lastly, Post request TDY Korean speaker support to 
interpret for NKs in foreseeable resettlement interviews and 
processing to the U.S. 
 
BOYCE