ROK and Inter-Korean relations
May 2004
-
Unification a Personal Struggle for Chung Dong-
young
By Yoo Dong-ho and Reuben Staines
Staff Reporters
Former Uri Party chairman Chung Dong-young, who
is tipped to take over as Unification Minister
next month, has made a painful and deeply
personal journey of reconciliation with North
Korea over the past 30 years.
Chung grew up believing he was an eldest child,
but in 1970 he was told by his ailing father
that he had had three older brothers who were
killed by North Korean guerillas during the 1950-
1953 Korean War.
-
Altered face for Korea's top military
The Korean military is undergoing a shake-up in
its top ranks because of a general's disgrace.
Or is it as simple as that?
A four-star general, Shin Il-soon, deputy
commander of the Korea-US Combined Forces
Command, was convicted Monday of
misappropriating official funds, and another
investigation has targeted Lee Cheol-woo, a
retired lieutenant general who once headed the
Korean Marine Corps.
While no one is suggesting that the reason for
the rumored purge was to head off another
military coup, there is a sense among political
leaders here that the military has to be kept
firmly under civilian control. In the past, a
secret society called Hanahoe was regarded as
being nearly as powerful as the official chain
of command.
The group, founded in 1963 by two military
officers from the Korea Military Academy's class
of 1963, inducted about 10 new members annually
from succeeding classes. The founders were Chun
Doo Hwan, who seized power in a military coup in
1979 after President Park Chung Hee was
assassinated, and Roh Tae-woo, his successor as
president.
-
North-South General-level Military Talks Held
Mt. Kumgang, May 26 (KCNA) -- The first round of
the north-south general-level military talks
took place at Mt. Kumgang resort Wednesday to
militarily guarantee the implementation of the
historic June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.
Present there were the north side's delegation
led by Major-General of the Korean People's Army
An Ik San and the south side's delegation with
Commodore Pak Jong Hwa from the Ministry of
National Defence of south Korea as chief
delegate.
-
Jeong to Be Sorely Missed for NK Expertise
By Yoo Dong-ho
Staff Reporter
Whoever is to become the next unification
minister, will have to pick up North Korea
policy from where his predecessor, Jeong Se-
hyun, left off.
Whether Chung Dong-young or Kim Geun-tae gets
the job in a Cabinet shakeup next month, Jeong,
57, will be surely missed for his expertise in
inter-Korean affairs.
In chorus, the two North Korea watchers remained
skeptical about the politically motivated
personnel reshuffling that is soon to relieve
Jeong of his post.
``If a political mogul such as former Uri
chairman Chung Dong-young and former Uri floor
leader Kim Geun-tae takes over the post, there
might be short-lived progress in terms of inter-
Korean dialogues,'' Ryoo said. ``Still, both of
them lack the expertise to deal sensibly with
the North Korean counterpart.''
Amid a flurry of media reports indicating he
will be replaced, Jeong himself remained tight-
lipped. Instead, he has been losing no time in
promoting awareness and understanding for peace
on the Korean peninsula and regional co-
prosperity.
A graduate of Seoul National University, Jeong
entered the ministry in 1979 and reached its top
position in 2001.
Jeong served at the Unification Ministry for 22
years until he retired as vice minister in 1999.
He led the South Korean delegation to the vice
ministerial talks with the North, held in
Beijing in 1998, during which the two sides
discussed Seoul's fertilizer aid and the
reunions of long-separated families.
After leaving the ministry, he worked in inter-
Korean affairs as a special aide to the chief of
the National Intelligence Service.
-
Stars meet in the North
Military talks a first, but no substantive
progress made
MOUNT GEUMGANG ? There were no breakthroughs at
the first-ever meeting of generals from the two
Koreas yesterday, but the symbolism of the
meeting was enough to gladden many hearts here.
At the six-hour meeting, the two sides agreed,
in principle, to set up an infrastructure to
prevent incidents in the Yellow Sea fishing
grounds which have led to military clashes in
the past. They also agreed, also in principle,
to work on confidence-building measures to
reduce tensions along the Demilitarized Zone
that divides the two countries.
And perhaps most important, according to some
defense analysts here, was the mundane-sounding
agreement to meet again, on June 3 at Mount
Seorak in South Korea's portion of Gangwon
province. Those analysts spoke hopefully of
setting such meetings in an institutional
framework in the future.
-
inter-Korean military talks
Delegates to the inter-Korean military talks
yesterday posing before getting down to business
at Mount Geumgang. The South Korean delegation
is to the left [photo]
-
Koreas Agree to Stop Naval Clashes
Next Military Talks to Be Held on June 3 at Mt.
Sorak
By Joint Press Corps
Staff Reporter Ryu Jin
MT. KUMGANG - South and North Korea agreed to
make joint efforts to work out measures to avoid
naval clashes in their first high-level military
talks held at the mountain resort on Wednesday.
They also agreed to hold the next round of talks
at South Korea's Mt. Sorak on June 3.
-
Southern Families Demand Action on NK Abductees
'Seoul Should Not Come Second to Tokyo'
By Park Song-wu, Reuben Staines
Staff Reporters
When Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi returned
from North Korea on Saturday with five family
members of abducted Japanese nationals, 52-year-
old Choi Sung-young was moved to tears.
-
Cash-for-summit' pardons issued
All but one of the seven men convicted last year
for arranging the bribes that brought about a
summit meeting between President Kim Dae-Jung of
South Korea and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il
in 2000 will receive presidential pardons today,
the Justice Ministry said.
The ministry said yesterday those who will be
pardoned include: Lim Dong-won, a former head of
the National Intelligence Agency; Choi Gyu-baek,
another former agency official; Lee Ki-ho, a
former Blue House economic adviser; Lee Keun-
young, former president of Korea Development
Bank; Park Sang-bae, a former vice president of
the bank; and Kim Yoon-kyu, the current
president of Hyundai Asan, which has major
investments in North Korea.
-
North-South Contacts Made
Mt. Kumgang Resort, May 25 (KCNA) -- Contacts
between Red Cross organizations of the north and
the south were made at Mt. Kumgang Resort on May
24 and 25. At the contacts both sides had an
exhaustive discussion on the issues of
cooperation between Red Cross organizations of
the north and the south including the issue of
the 10th reunion of separated families and
relatives and agreed to further the discussion
on the issues put on the agenda in the future.
-
Two Koreas Aim to Stop Naval Clashes
By Joint Press Corps
Staff Reporter Ryu Jin
MT. KUMGANG - The two Koreas agreed to make
joint efforts to work out measures to avoid
accidental naval clashes in their first high-
level military talks held at this mountain
resort on Wednesday. They also agreed to hold
the next round of talks at South Korea's Mt.
Sorak on June 3.
-
NK Database Center Opens
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Human rights activists have opened a research center to collect data on the
human rights condition in communist North Korea.
-
Park's assassin is executed, an army clique fades
May 24, 1980
At first glance, the recent hit film "The President's Barber" is an innocent comedy and drama that tells the fictional story of a commoner who becomes a barber for the former President Park Chung Hee. However, the film cannot escape criticism that it glossed over some parts of history that remain a sore spot for Koreans.
One such example is the description of President Park's assassination by Kim Jae-gyu, who was executed on this date. Mr. Kim was then the head of the national intelligence office, an almighty figure in the military regime who had President Park's favor. [Park Chung-hee] [Kim Jae-kyu]
-
An Underwood departs, with job at an end
After 119 years of ministering to Korea and its people, the links between the Underwood family and missionary and educational work in Korea are about to be loosened, although not entirely severed.
-
Red Cross Meet Due on Reunions
By Jung Sung-ki
Red cross officials from the two Koreas will open a two-day meeting Monday to discuss a new round of separated family reunions and other related issues at Mt. Kumgang.
-
ROK Ministry of Unification Newsletter Volume.57 May 24. 2004
-
Korean Wave' Washes into Pyeongyang
by Kang Chol-hwan (nkch@chosun.com)
Korean hit TV soap operas, such as "All In," "Autumn Rhapsody," "Winter Love Song," and "King Taejo," are becoming popular among young North Koreans. The soundtracks of the dramas are also gaining popularity, as "Like the First Day," from "All In," has become gotten popular in the North.
The popularity is a sign that the "Korean wave" -- the success of Korean pop culture across Asia -- has not gone unnoticed up north.
The spread and popularity of South Korean culture is limited to Pyeongyang, Sinuiju, and Cheongjin, areas that are relatively open to outside contact, Chinese sources familiar with North Korea said.
South Korean dramas wind up in the three cities about three to six months after being broadcast here.
[Opening]
-
Probes aimed at the top dropped
After a nine-month investigation into illegal
campaign financing during the 2002 presidential
elections, prosecutors announced yesterday that
they were dropping probes against President Roh
Moo-hyun, Grand National Party candidate Lee Hoi-
chang, and Lee Kun-hee, chairman of Samsung
Group, Korea's most powerful corporation.
-
Kwangju Popular Uprising Marked in S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- Functions took place
in Kwangju on May 16 on the occasion of the 24th
anniversary of the May 18 Popular Uprising,
according to a news report. Members of the
(south) Korean Federation of University Student
Councils (Hanchongryon), the (south) Korean
Confederation of Trade Unions and the
Reunification Plaza and other organizations,
former unconverted long-term prisoners and
citizens, at least 1,000 in all, visited the
"May 18 National Cemetery" in Mangwol-dong,
Kwangju to honor the memory of the victims.
-
Kim Jong-pil Indicted for Funds From Samsung
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
The prosecution on Thursday indicted Kim Jong-pil, former leader of the minor
opposition United Liberal Democrats (ULD), on charges of taking illegal
political funds from Samsung Group in 2002.
It is the first time that the 77-year-old lawmaker will face trial since he
debuted in politics through a military coup in 1961.
A graduate of the Korean Military Academy, Kim took part in the coup as an
assistant officer for then-army general Park Chung-hee. He served as the
inaugural chief of the intelligence agency after Park grabbed power. [Corruption]
-
Politicians in Gwangju
President Roh Moo-hyun greeting Park Geun-hye,
chairwoman of the Grand National Party yesterday
at the ceremony held at a national cemetery in
Gwangju to commemorate the May 18
Democratization Movement
[Kwangju] [photo]
-
Scholars from North to visit here in June
A group of social scientists from North Korea
will visit South Korea on June 2 to participate
in a joint academic meeting, the first of its
kind in the social sciences since the two Koreas
were divided.
Lee Seo-hyeung, a scholar at the Academy of
Korean Studies, told a seminar yesterday that
the North Koreans will travel here at the
institute's invitation and will join their South
Korean counterparts from the academy in
discussing North-South affairs and the
resistance movement against Japanese colonial
rule from 1910 to 1945 and Japan's contemporary
right-wing movement.
-
Honors to Kim Jae-kyu?
The Democratization Rewarding Committee has
begun deliberating on an application to honor
Kim Jae-kyu, the former head of the Korean
Central Intelligence Agency who shot and killed
President Park Chung-hee during a private dinner
on Oct. 26, 1979. If the semi-official panel
concludes that Kim contributed to the promotion
of democracy in the republic, his family will be
given a government certificate to that effect
plus some cash reward.
It is reported that committee members are
interviewing several former pro-democracy
activists who have had contacts with Kim. A
close confidant of the dictator, Kim was engaged
in a power contest with Cha Ji-chul, Park's
chief bodyguard, who he also fatally shot. Kim
was convicted of the double murder and treason
by a court-martial.
The applicant, a nephew of Kim who had no
children, said his uncle deserves recognition as
a democratic fighter as it was he who brought an
end to Park's 18-year repressive rule and laid
the foundation for democracy in this country.
The petitioner claimed that the military rulers
at that time unfairly painted Kim as a power-
hungry traitor.
-
Memories of massacre linger in Gwangju
[Kwangju]
-
Seoul-Pyongyang Friendly Football to Be Revived
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
Seoul City will create a fund to revive goodwill
football matches with Pyongyang that were
suspended a half-century ago and vitalize other
inter-Korean cooperation projects.
-
Families remember losses of 24 years ago
At a national cemetery in Gwangju yesterday, a
familiy paid homage to a relative killed in the
uprising in the city on May 18, 1980
[Kwangju] [Photo]
-
Politicians to Head for May 18 Cemetery in
Kwangju
By Park Song-wu
Staff Reporter
A large number of politicians plan to make a
pilgrimage to the National May 18 Cemetery in
Kwangju on Tuesday, paying tribute to those
martyred for democracy in 1980. Also in their
mind is getting votes prior to a gubernatorial
by-election next month.
-
Off the hook
May 14th 2004
From The Economist Global Agenda
South Korea's president, Roh Moo-hyun, can finally launch his country's experiment with left-leaning government, now that the Constitutional Court has overturned his impeachment
A former human-rights activist and self-educated labour lawyer, he publicly opposed South Korea's military regime in the 1980s, and once called on America to withdraw the troops that defend the country from North Korea. His young, anti-establishment supporters share this antipathy towards the United States, and would rather accommodate North Korea than stand up to it
-
North Korean Performers Adapt to Life on a New Stage
By NORIMITSU ONISHI
Published: May 16, 2004
AMAN, South Korea - An old life abandoned, ties
to home and family relinquished, borders
traversed, an anguished probing of the nature of
art - it had taken all that and more for Kim
Young Ok to make it onto a stage here the other
night. Ms. Kim, a North Korean singer who fled
her hometown three years ago, now stood before a
crowd of hundreds in this small town on the
southern edge of the Korean peninsula.
-
Liaison Officers of North and South Contact for
General-level Military Talks
Kaesong, May 14 (KCNA) -- Liaison officers of
the north and the south had a contact in the
area under the control of the north and the
south on the west coast Friday for the general-
level military talks between the two sides. At
the contact both sides discussed practical
issues concerning the opening of the general-
level military talks for discussing military
issues arising in implementing the historic June
15 North-South Joint Declaration.
They agreed to hold the first north-south
general-level military talks at Mt. Kumgang
resort on May 26.
-
North Korea Next Big Huddle for President
By Yoo Dong-ho
Staff Reporter
Although President Roh Moo-hyun was exonerated
in the impeachment case, it is unlikely that he
will be able to make any bold initiative and
achieve a breakthrough in inter-Korean
relations, according to analysts.
-
Kim Yong Nam Meets Chairperson of Hyundai Group
and Her Party
Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam,
president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme
People's Assembly, met Hyon Jong Un, chairperson
of Hyundai Group of south Korea, and her party
and president of Hyundai Asan Kim Yun Gyu and
talked with them in a compatriotic atmosphere at
the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Present there
were Ri Jong Hyok, vice-chairman of the Korea
Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, and officials
concerned.
-
Court Dismisses Impeachment of President Roh
Roh Resumes Duty as Head of State
By Shim Jae-yun
Staff Reporter
President Roh Moo-hyun on Friday resumed his
executive duties immediately after the
Constitutional Court overturned the
unprecedented impeachment motion against the
head of state.
-
North, South set top-level military talks
South Korea's Defense Ministry announced yesterday that North Korea has agreed to a meeting of senior military officers from the two nations on May 26 at Mount Geumgang, a resort in eastern North Korea.
-
Tanks Moving Exercise Announced in S. Korea
Pyongyang, May 12 (KCNA) -- The Metropolitan Defence Command of the south Korean army announced Monday that it would conduct tanks moving exercise in West Gate and Unphyong Districts, Seoul, and in Kwachon, Kyonggi Province on May 11, 14 and 15, according to the south Korean MBC. The south Korean military said it is an annual exercise to increase the rapid movement capacity of tank forces on road in case of emergency.
-
Teacher Becomes Conscientious Objector
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
A 27-year-old teacher will become the first conscientious objector among teaching professionals in South Korea as he believes serving the military runs counter to his belief.
-
To the Underwoods: Thank you
-
Chairperson of Hyundai Group and Her Party Here
Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- Hyon Jong Un,
chairperson of the Hyundai Group of south Korea,
and her party arrived here Tuesday. Kim Yun Gyu,
president of Hyundai Asan, was included in her
party.
They were warmly greeted at the airport by Ri
Jong Hyok, vice-chairman of the Korea Asia-
Pacific Peace Committee, and other officials
concerned with compatriotic feelings.
-
Chun Doo-hwan's Wife May Face Charges
Prosecution Trying to Track Down Ex-President's
Slush Funds
By Soh Ji-young
Staff Reporter
The prosecution is considering bringing criminal
charges against former President Chun Doo-hwan's
wife, Lee Soon-ja, for allegedly laundering
Chun's slush funds
-
Two Koreas Agree to Hold Military Talks in May
-
Underwood Family Prepares to Bid Farewell After 119 Years
By Soh Ji-young
Staff Reporter
The esteemed Underwood family, which has lived in Korea for four generations,
will leave their adopted country after 119 years of devoted service.
Horace H. Underwood, the great grandson of Horace G. Underwood, founder of
Yonsei University and Saemoonan Presbyterian Church, plans to return to the
United States with his wife this coming October.
-
General's arrest stuns the army
The Korean army and defense establishment have
been embarrassed by the arrest on embezzlement
charges of a four-star general who serves as
deputy commander of the South Korean and United
States Combined Forces Command.
-
Campaign to Scrap National Security Law Gains
Momentum
By Soh Ji-young
Staff Reporter
Civic groups are joining hands to form a united
front against their common enemy they have
fought against for decades _ the National
Security Law.
-
Unconditional Release of Ex-Chief Secretary of Chongwadae Called for
Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) -- Pak Ji Won, ex-chief secretary of Chongwadae in south Korea, has not yet received proper medical treatment owing to the inhuman attitude of the authorities though he is in the danger of completely losing eyesight due to the deteriorating disease in one of his eyes, too, behind bars. A spokesman for the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee Thursday gave the following answer to a question put by KCNA in this regard:
As already reported, Pak Ji Won was reported to have been in the danger of completely losing his eyesight as the disease in one of his eyes took a turn for the worse in prison after his left eye got blind because of glaucoma long ago. Pak rendered his service for the historic Pyongyang meeting and the publication of the June 15 joint declaration.
-
14th Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks Close
Pyongyang, May 7 (KCNA) -- The 14th inter-Korean ministerial talks closed Friday. At the talks both sides raised and discussed the principled and urgent matters arising in further developing the inter-Korean relations in conformity with the historic period in which those seeking division and confrontation have been replaced by the new forces aspiring after national independence and reunification which are leading the era of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.
-
Gen. Shin Detained Over Embezzlement
Military prosecutors detained Gen. Shin Il-soon, the deputy chief of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) in Seoul, Saturday night on embezzlement and bribe-taking charges.
The CFC is headed by a four-star U.S. general, while a South Korean four-star general takes the post of deputy commander.
-
GNP Leader to Make Trip to May 18 National Cemetery
By Park Song-wu
Staff Reporter
Park Geun-hye, chairwoman of the Grand National Party (GNP), plans to visit the national cemetery in Kwangju on May 18 in an attempt to ease the city residents' animosity against her and the conservative party.
-
Seoul, Pyongyang Agree to Hold Military Talks Soon
Joint Press Corps
PYONYANG - South and North Korea on Friday agreed to hold general-level military talks as early as this month.
-
Koreas reach new accord on high-level military
talks
PYEONGYANG ? In a bid to find ways to defuse
military tension between North and South Korea,
representatives to the inter-Korean ministerial
talks said here yesterday the two sides had
agreed to arrange consultations between the
countries' top military leaders.
No date for the talks was set.
-
14th Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks Open
Pyongyang, May 5 (KCNA) -- The 14th north-south ministerial talks were opened
here today. At the talks Kwon Ho Ung, chief councilor of the DPRK Cabinet, who
is the head of the north side's delegation and Jong Se Hyon, minister of
Unification, who is chief delegate of the south side made keynote speeches.
-
Pomminryon Denounces "Spy Case" Cooked Up by S.
Korean Judicial Authorities
Pyongyang, May 4 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the
North Headquarters of the National Alliance for
the Country's Reunification (Pomminryon) issued
a statement Monday denouncing the south Korean
judicial authorities for charging Min Kyong U,
pro-reunification patriot, with "espionage" by
invoking the "Security Law." Some days ago, the
south Korean judicial authorities demanded 10
years in prison and the same term of suspension
of qualification for Min Kyong U, secretary
general of the Reunification Solidarity, on a
charge of violation of the article on
"espionage" of this law.
[Human rights]
-
Delegation of South Side Here
Pyongyang, May 4 (KCNA) -- A south side
delegation with Jong Se Hyon, minister of
Unification of south Korea, as chief delegate
arrived here today to participate in the 14th
north-south ministerial talks. It was greeted at
the airport by delegates of the north side to
the ministerial talks.
-
Court Set to Reinstate
Impeached President
Roh in Stronger Position to Push Ahead With
Reform Agenda
-
Seoul Presses N. Korea for Early Military Talks
By Yoo Dong-ho
Staff Reporter
South Korea's Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun
on Wednesday proposed that inter-Korean high-
level defense talks be held within this month to
alleviate military tension in the West Sea. [NLL]
-
Release of Pro-Reunification Figure in S. Korea
Demanded
Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- The Measure Committee
for the Acquittal of Ri Jong Rin and Min Kyong U
reportedly called a press conference in front of
the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office
on April 29 at which it denounced the
prosecution for demanding ten years in prison
for Min Kyong U, secretary general of the
Reunification Solidarity. At the conference Kwon
O Hon, chairman of the Society for Supporting
Prisoners of Conscience of the Family Movement
for Realizing Democracy, and other speakers said
the activities of Min was a movement for
reunification, not spying acts, and called for
channeling all efforts to the struggle for the
repeal of the Security Law. [Human rights]
-
Seoul Proposes High-Level Military Dialogue This
Month
By Yoo Dong-ho
Staff Reporter
South Korea's Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun
on Wednesday proposed that inter-Korean high-
level defense talks be held within this month to
alleviate military tension in the West Sea.
``General-level officers from Seoul and
Pyongyang should sit together to head off
possible clashes in the West Sea at the peak of
crab-catching season in May and June,'' said the
South's chief negotiator during a keynote speech
for the 14th Cabinet-level talks held in
Pyongyang, North Korea.
-
NK Defectors' Passage to South Made Easier
By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
North Korean asylum seekers who take refuge at
South Korean diplomatic missions in China will
receive better treatment under a new directive
issued by the government.
-
Overview of
Intra-Korean Exchanges & Cooperation for
March 2004
-
May Day Meeting of Inter-Korean Workers Held
-
Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks Open in Pyongyang
By Yoo Dong-ho
Staff Reporter
A five-member South Korean delegation arrived in
Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, Tuesday for
the 14th round of inter-Korean Cabinet-level
talks
-
Uri, GNP Leaders Agree to Improve Economy, Fight
Corruption
Bipartisan Committee to Be Launched for Joint
Approach on NK
Regarding North Korea, the two agreed to
introduce a special supra-partisan parliamentary
committee to enact laws aimed at speeding up
inter-Korean reconciliation
-
S-N Ministerial Talks to Open Tuesday in
Pyongyang
By Ryu Jin
Staff Reporter
Officials from South and North Korea will
convene for Cabinet-level talks in Pyongyang on
Tuesday to discuss the South's aid to the
disaster-hit North and the resumption of inter-
Korean military talks.
-
Workers From Two Koreas Will Mark May Day
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Some 300 delegates from South Korea' trade unions will on Saturday hold a joint
May Day celebration in Pyongyang, North Korea.
The delegates, comprised of 143 members from the
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), 142
from the Federation of Korean Trade Unions
(FKTU) and reporters, left for the North Korean
capital on Friday aboard a chaptered Korean Air
flight.
The four-day joint event, which started in 2001,
was suspended last year due to scares of severe
acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
-
GNP Leader May Visit NK as Special Envoy
By Park Song-wu
Staff Reporter
Park Geun-hye, leader of the opposition Grand National Party (GNP), on Friday
said she would consider working as the government's ``special envoy'' to help
resolve the North Korean nuclear standoff.
``I will positively consider it if I receive such a call and will visit North
Korea and the United States to seek a settlement of the nuclear issue,'' Han
Sun-kyo, GNP spokesman, quoted Park as saying.
Her remarks came as the conservative party is struggling to readjust its
identity with many party members demanding the GNP leadership employ a more
flexible attitude toward the North.
-
Workers From Two Koreas Will Mark May Day
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Some 300 delegates from South Korea' trade unions will on Saturday hold a joint
May Day celebration in Pyongyang, North Korea.
-
Abductees' families demand redress
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea
has recommended that the government enact
special laws for families of abductees to North
Korea who have suffered from being unfairly
implicated. The recommendation followed a
petition submitted in Nov. 2002 by the family
members.
The families of 486 abductees claimed to have
suffered from "guilt-by-association" from
government authorities, being barred from taking
public examinations, suffering restrictions on
travel and being kept under strict surveillance.
The commission also recommended that the
government try to find the whereabouts of
abductees. Among 3,790 abductees to the North
since the Korean War, 486 remain unaccounted
for.
There has been suspicion in the South that some
of the abductees are, in fact, voluntary
defectors.
-
It's a miracle: Water as a fuel fools the faithful
You've heard about water being turned into wine. But how about into gasoline?
After swindling 649 Christians out of 3.2 billion won ($2.8 million) by saying that with God's help they had created a machine that could convert water into fuel, two men were arrested and indicted yesterday by prosecutors.
According to the authorities, the men, identified as Mr. Lee, 46, and Mr. Choi, 55, defrauded church members in Seoul, saying that the newly developed "water-energy technology" would make a fortune.
"We developed a machine that can use water instead of gasoline because of God," the two men told the churchgoers.
The prosecution said the two men demonstrated their technology in the churches. Each time, they first put liquefied petroleum gas into a small furnance and let the machine burn the gas for about 15 minutes.
They then stopped supplying gas and poured water into the machine, which appeared to continue burning, the prosecution said. The two men had actually installed solid fuel inside the furnance to make it appear that it could use water as fuel.
Return to ROK and Inter-Korean relations page