BANGKOK, Aug. 16 Kyodo The Japane...

BANGKOK, Aug. 16 Kyodo

The Japanese Embassy in Bangkok said Saturday that 10 North Korean asylum inquirers currently taking refuge inside the Japanese mission cannot record Japan for the purpose of applying for asylum.

As a terminate the embassy is expected to stair up contacts with the UN High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) and the toward the south Korean authorities to allow the North Koreans to try to find asylum in a country other than Japan.

''Applications for asylum (in Japan) are continued movemented on the assumption of the applicant already being in Japan, in the way that it is not possible to travel to Japan in order to apply for asylum,'' said Toshihisa Takata, the other ranking diplomat at the embassy.

Thai authorities have said that the refugee are seeking asylum in Japan.

The southern Korean Embassy has also stated that the North Koreans would be granted political asylum in southward Korea if they sought it.

forward July 31, the 10 slipped into the embassy mix as embassy personnel lay opened the main gate for an incoming embassy car.

Nine of the refugee carried copies of documents issued according to the UNHCR regional office in Bangkok indicating that they are beneath consideration for refugee status while the 10th person's original was claimed to have been missing Takata previously said.

upon Aug. 1, Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said the UNHCR has recognized all 10 as bodys of Concern (POC).

Surakiart also said the UNHCR regional office in Bangkok informed him that it has been in contact with the southward Korean Embassy in Bangkok for asylum arrangements for the North Koreans.

The UNHCR's position is that POC should not be forced or pressur into returning to their home of origin against their will.

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