ROK and Inter-Korean relations July 2004

ROK and Inter-Korean relations

July 2004

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North Korea lashes Seoul over defectors
In its first official response to the arrival in South Korea this week of 468 defectors from the North, Pyeongyang accused officials in Seoul yesterday of a "systematic and planned kidnapping and terrorist crime committed in broad daylight." The statement by the North Korean Committee for Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland was carried by the state-run Korea Central News Agency. North Korea termed the event "the greatest act of hostility intended to crumble the North Korean political system."
2nd World Conference on Koreanology to Be Held
Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- The 2nd world conference on Koreanology is slated to take place here from August 4 to 5, Juche 93 (2004). The conference will bring together scholars of the DPRK, overseas Korean scholars and scholars of different countries who specialize in Korean studies. It will deal with achievements made in academic studies in various fields including philosophy, economic laws, language and history under the subject of "Koreanology in the era of reconciliation and cooperation."
Roh Protects Ruling on Pro-NK Activities
By Yoo Dong-ho Staff Reporter Giving his approval to a recent ruling by a presidential fact-finding body in favor of pro- North Korean activities of the past, President Roh Moo-hyun on Friday accused opposition parties of using criticism of the commission in an attempt to attack him. ``I think opposition forces have criticized the Presidential Truth Commission on Suspicious Deaths in order to strike at me,'' Roh said while meeting with a group of commission members whose term expired on June 30.
S-N Ministerial Talks Likely to Be Put Off
By Yoo Dong-ho Staff Reporter The upcoming inter-Korean ministerial meeting is showing signs of bogging down as North Korea on Thursday did not respond to the South's repeated calls for a meeting of working-level officials to discuss the Aug. 3-6 meeting. Further darkening the outlook, the North strongly criticized the South in connection with the recent influx of North Korean defectors to its capitalist neighbor.
NK Refugees Abandon Asylum Bids to South
Remain in China to Care for Families in North Korea By Jung Sung-ki An increasing number of North Korean defectors in China are abandoning their bids to seek asylum in South Korea due chiefly to fears of being repatriated to the North. Instead, they mainly settle there to support their families in the famine-stricken North Korea. In a recent interview published in a monthly booklet released by the Association of the Defectors of North Korea in Seoul, a North Korean defector who came to Seoul in 2002 elaborated on the reality of life for North Korean defectors in China.
Suspect in Kaesong Handed Over to South
By Lee Jin-woo A South Korean worker, who allegedly used violence against a colleague Monday night at the construction site of the Kaesong industrial complex in North Korea, was handed over to South Korean police on Wednesday. After taking the suspect into custody, police in the border town of Paju requested an arrest warrant. The suspect, identified as Choi, 22, was not questioned by North Korean authorities, although an inter-Korean agreement on the safety of South Koreans in Kaesong and Mt. Kumgang has yet to take effect.
Defense chief resigns; naval dispute goes on
Wasting no time, the Blue House announced yesterday that it would name today a successor to Cho Young-kil, the defense minister who is resigning over a controversial inter-Korean naval shooting incident that took place earlier this month. Meanwhile, concerns are growing that the North has politicized the emergency radio hot line established to avert clashes between the two navies ? and is stimulating more maritime border violations.
Life usually not rosy for defectors
Second of a series Many North Korean defectors come here seeking better lives for themselves and their families, but even for those who succeed in adjusting, it is not easy for them to adapt to society here, and some never succeed. The defectors themselves say that their own passivity, incompetence and lack of patience are also part of the reason for the inability to adjust. Here are some examples of success and failure from among defectors who have settled here.
Naval incident leads general to step down
Against the backdrop of border violations in the Yellow Sea by possibly more North Korean vessels, South Korea's top military intelligence official stepped down yesterday over his leak of information about a similar intrusion earlier this month. Lieutenant General Park Seung-chun, chief intelligence director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed his intention to retire yesterday following a Ministry of National Defense investigation that identified him as the source of a leak that made public a communication log between the two Koreas during a naval encounter on July 14. Brigadier General Nam Dae-yeon, a spokesman at the Ministry of National Defense, said, "Mr. Park realized his accountability for bringing troubles to the president and the nation's military and will voluntarily leave military service." Meanwhile, the Joint Chiefs of Staff reported another maritime border intrusion yesterday. According to the military, two small fishing boats crossed the sea demarcation around 8:30 a.m. yesterday, and retreated after 17 minutes. "Because of low visibility and weather conditions, the Navy was unable to identify whether the boats were from North Korea or China," a spokesman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. "We broadcast three warnings over a radio channel to inform the North about the intrusion, but no reply has been received."
230 NK Defectors Arrive in Seoul
By Yoo Dong-ho Staff Reporter About 230 North Korean defectors on Tuesday arrived here from a Southeast Asian country in the largest-ever single group of defectors to reach South Korea. A chartered Asiana Airlines flight carrying North Koreans fleeing their communist homeland landed at a military airport, just south of Seoul, around 9 a.m. amid tight security.
government will soon come up with comprehensive measures to deal with a mass influx of North Korean defectors coming to South Korea. ``We need to review and upgrade the overall defectors-handling policy,'' he said, adding, ``I expect the number of North Korean defectors in South Korea will exceed 10,000 in just a few years.'' Currently, North Korean defectors here number more than 5,000.
Hanawon, the state-run re-education center for the North's defectors, can accommodate 400 defectors at a time and currently only about an additional 100 can be allowed in. The government is seeking ways to send the rest of the North Koreans to local government bodies.
Official figures show that 1,285 North Koreans defected to South Korea in 2003, up from 1,140 in 2002 and 583 in 2001. In the first six months of the year, 760 North Koreans were allowed to come to South Korea, mostly via China.
Defense Minister Offers to Resign Over Navy Scandal
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter Defense Minister Cho Young-kil expressed his readiness to step down on Tuesday, taking responsibility for the latest military scandal regarding a misleading report on the July 14 inter-Korean naval incident.
Assembly Speaker Seeks Inter-Korean Parliamentary Meeting
By Jung Sung-ki National Assembly Speaker Kim One-ki proposed an active role for the South Korean Assembly on Tuesday in the improvement of inter-Korean relations as well as in achieving a peaceful resolution to the North Korean nuclear problem.
New caste seen in North's defectors
First of a series As Seoul prepares to welcome about 460 North Korean defectors, experts on the refugees say the profile of those fleeing the North has changed, as has the North's policy towards defectors who are caught. The imminent entry of hundreds today and tomorrow also illustrates the size of the ever-growing exodus to South Korea. Recent trends show that defectors are meticulously planning their escapes, bringing full families with them. Previously, most defectors had been individuals. In 2001, among 583 North Korean defectors who came South 254 were single defectors; in 2002, out of the 1,140 defectors, 694 were single. Nowadays, defectors who have managed to reach and settle in South Korea make efforts to bring their families who may be in the North, in China or in Southeast Asia. Also, as economic hardships increased in the North, the authorities' internal control weakened somewhat, leading to easier escapes to China. In the late 1990s, most defectors were fleeing natural disasters and food shortages; once they found food and earned money in China, they often returned home. Nowadays, however, defectors leaving the North are seeking a better life. According to the Korea Institute for National Unification, the recent influx does not consist of the poor, but those from better-off groups. There has also been a dramatic increase in the number of women and children reaching the South in recent years. North Korea's policy towards defectors has changed somewhat, and the degree of punishment for defectors differs according to their length of absence and motive. Up until the mid-1990s, defectors who were caught were sent to political camps and their families were forced to migrate to remote areas. The authorities have eased sanctions in recent years: Those who spent terms in China only have to do forced labor for two to three months. It is only defectors who contact South Koreans, or enter South Korean churches in China, who are harshly punished. by Jung Chang-hyun
Why did Cho bring up intentional cover-up?
With the government struggling to patch up the dispute over military misreporting of a North Korean intrusion into southern waters, attention is focused on why Defense Minister Cho Yung-kil rekindled the controversy just as it was dying down. Reversing what the Defense Ministry had said at a news conference the previous day, Cho said Saturday the military "intentionally covered up" the fact that it received messages from the North before firing warning shots toward a North Korean ship. The controversy had appeared set to end last week as the ministry announced the reporting failure was due to the negligence of some officials and President Roh Moo-hyun decided to punish those responsible only with "warnings" in order not to weaken military morale. With speculation rife as to why Cho reopened a case that at one time looked likely to cost him his job, most observers believe the defense minister decided to send strong warnings to staff known to be highly uncooperative to people who have different backgrounds. Most military officials are from the premier Korea Military, Navy and Air Force Academies, the three most elite avenues to the nation's top defense policymakers. Cho graduated from the less prestigious military school of the Army College of Republic of Korea and as a result has received lukewarm support from within the military. By attacking with unusually harsh words what he labeled as slack discipline, Cho might have been attempting to express his discontent with the military over the past year, as well as warning his staff to stiffen their discipline.
Many ruling party lawmakers believe the military, after a half century of confrontation with its counterpart in the North, is skeptical toward the government's efforts to increase peace and cooperation with the communist neighbor.
But having praised the military for its successful operations and criticized the government for weakening military moral, the main opposition Grand National Party reversed itself to demand that the responsible military officers face stronger censure. "It must be made clear why the officials intentionally covered up (the messages from North Korea," GNP's chief policymaker Lee Hahn-koo said.
Aide rekindles naval clash ire
At a National Defense Committee hearing on Saturday Korea's defense minister, Cho Young- gil, has told the National Assembly that the Korean Navy purposely omitted in its reports on a recent incident in the Yellow Sea that the North Korean Navy had responded to radio calls from the South. A North Korean vessel sailed across the sea boundary on July 14; a Seoul ship fired warning shots during the incursion. It was unclear just why the defense minister was making public a part of the investigation into the incident that had not been made public earlier. The naval commander, Vice Admiral Kim Seong-man, told investigators earlier that he had not forwarded information on the radio contact to his superiors because he feared that he would not be allowed to fire warning shots to drive the vessel away. He also reportedly told investigators that he also believed the North could use the incident for political purposes. Apparently in a bid to mend the widening rift between the military and the country's political leadership, the Blue House issued relatively light reprimands despite the admiral's decision to withhold the information. Earlier, after military complaints that they were being made a scapegoat in the incident, a lawmaker of the governing Uri Party suggested that the military leadership was mostly beholden to past military governments for their current leadership jobs. The defense minister's comments threw fuel on that fire. A Blue House spokesman said yesterday the matter was closed. He added that President Roh was well aware of the reasons for the communications breakdown. "We think that by focusing too much on the statement by the commanding officer some misunderstanding has occurred," a Blue House official said, speaking of the defense minister's remarks. A spokesman said the Uri Party was not happy, but respected the president's decision. [Role of ROK military]
No travel ban for man during treason appeal
The prosecution said yesterday it would not try to bar Song Du-yul, a Korean-German sociologist, from traveling abroad while it asks the Supreme Court to review his case. Mr. Song received a suspended sentence on relatively minor charges after an appeals court last week ruled that the prosecution had not proven its main contention, that he was a member of the North Korean Workers Party politburo.
Action Taken to Disallow Pyongyang Visit of Ngo Delegation under Fire in S. Korea
Pyongyang, July 23 (KCNA) -- The Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration reportedly held a regular meeting of its central steering committee on July 17 at which it released a special statement accusing the south Korean authorities of disallowing the Pyongyang visit by a non-governmental delegation of south Korea to participate in functions to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the demise of President Kim Il Sung. The statement sternly chided the Ministry of Unification for disallowing the Pyongyang visit of personages of a non- governmental organization including Presbyter Pak Yong Gil, widow of Rev. Mun Ik Hwan, to participate in the above-said functions. Such action was an anachronistic anti-reunification behavior reminiscent of the rash action taken against those south Koreans who wished to mourn the death of the President in 1994 and an unethical action of ignoring even the ancestral good manners and customs and elemental human morality, the statement noted, and continued:
Uri Endeavors to Soothe Military
By Jung Sung-ki The governing Uri Party is stepping up its efforts to alleviate the recent concerns over the widening rift between the party and the military over the failure to report certain information concerning the shooting incident in the West Sea two weeks ago. [Role of ROK military]
Opposition Calls for Punishment of Defense Minister
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter The Grand National Party (GNP) urged Chong Wa Dae on Monday to punish top military brass, including the defense minister, for the military's misleading report and following cover- up concerning the July 14 inter-Korean naval incident. The military scandal has intensified the confrontation between the ruling and opposition camps as the GNP, the nation's main opposition, has been adamant on dealing with the matter sternly. In a sudden change of attitude, the GNP took a tougher line on the issue, arguing Defense Minister Cho Young-kil and senior Chong Wa Dae officials should take responsibility. Last week, the conservative party had been trying to maintain good relations with the military, while leveling criticism only at the presidential office. ``The recent scandal is linked to the slackness of military discipline and national identity,'' Rep. Hwang Jin-ha, a three-star retired army general, said during his party's morning meeting. ``President Roh Moo-hyun, who is the nation's supreme commander, should strictly punish those responsible.'' GNP spokeswoman Jun Yeo-ok also said that operational commanders failing to report crucial information due to the concern they might be ordered not to fire warning shots at a North Korean boat was equivalent to ``disobedience.''[Role of ROK military]
Navy officers held back N.K. radio messages
South Korea's defense minister said the nation's navy intentionally covered up the fact that it received radio messages from the North shortly before firing warning shots toward a suspected North Korean ship. His comments, before the National Assembly's Defense Committee Saturday, rekindled the controversy over the navy's misreporting of the July 14 firing incident on the disputed western sea border. The ministry earlier said it didn't pass the messages from the North to officials up the chain of command, including the president, because navy officers believed they didn't merit reporting. The Navy also said it reacted properly, under the rules of engagement, to the North Korean vessel's intrusion into southern waters. Defense Minister Cho Yung-kil said the naval fleet operations commander concealed North Korea's radio contact out of concern he might be ordered not to fire toward the North Korean vessel, and out of fear the media would question whether such action was appropriate - all of which could be used politically later by the North. [Role of ROK military]
Navy Covered Up Hotline Failure, Says Defense Chief
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter South Korea's navy intentionally did not report radio messages it had received from North Korea before firing warning shots at the North's ship on July 14 due to concerns it might be ordered not to, the nation's military chief said. Despite the fresh revelation, however, those involved in the misreporting scandal will likely be given mere ``verbal warnings'' as previously instructed by President Roh Moo-hyun last week, according to officials on Sunday. While attending a National Assembly session on Saturday, Defense Minister Cho Young-kil said the omission of the crucial information in the navy's report on the inter-Korean maritime incident was made in an intentional cover-up attempt, not by ``carelessness'' as earlier concluded by a joint investigation team. ``I believed the operational commander should have been punished sternly because I thought it was improper for him to ignore such important information,'' Cho told the Assembly's National Defense Committee on Saturday. ``So I made this recommendation to the president.''
Song to Be Allowed to Leave Korea
By Kim Rahn Staff Reporter The prosecution has tentatively decided not to impose travel restrictions on Korean-German professor Song Du-yul, who was released from jail last week after a Seoul appellate court sentenced him to a suspended term. ``We have not sought to impose a travel ban on Song yet, and it is unlikely we will prevent him from leaving the country,'' a prosecution official said.
Roh stops short of punishing military
President Roh Moo-hyun yesterday stopped short of reprimanding military officials for failing to report immediately to their superiors North Korea's recent intrusion into South Korean waters, only warning them instead not to repeat such mistakes.
Saluting the military
In the aftermath of a dispute over a naval incident with North Korea last week, conservative citizens' groups held a rally in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, yesterday to voice support for the military and to denounce the Roh administration for being critical of the military. "We trust our military," the blue banners read.
Light punishments only in naval reporting failure
President Roh Moo-hyun ordered the military yesterday to issue warnings to five officials who failed to report to higher levels of the command hierarchy ? including the Blue House ? that North and South Korean vessels had exchanged communications on July 14. Kim Jong-min, the Blue House spokesman, said, "We have no personnel changes to announce today regarding the July 14 incident."
North novel, South prize
A North Korean novelist, Hong Seok-jung, 63, has become the first writer from his country to win the Manhae Prize for Literature, a South Korean writing award. Changbi Publishers, Inc. said Wednesday that it had selected Mr. Hong as the winner of the 19th Manhae Prize for Literature for his historical novel "Hwang Jin Yi." The story is about the life of the eponymous female entertainer in Korea's Joseon Dynasty. The novel went on sale in South Korea in February after Daehoonbooks, Co. struck a deal with its North Korean publisher. Unusual for North Korean novels, it contains what reviews call graphic sexual portrayals. "Literarily, the work is praiseworthy enough, especially for its elaborate description of personalities. There is no ideological problem, either," said the prize judging committee. The prize money of 10 million won ($8,573) will be presented at a ceremony scheduled here on November 24. It is not yet known whether the North Korean government will allow the winner to attend.
Truth commission jurisdiction
The government and Uri Party agreed to change the affiliation of the Truth Commission on Suspicious Deaths from directly under the president to under the National Assembly. They also agreed to put together 13 draft bills requiring the truth of the past and restoration of honor. The first and second commissions acted against the people's sentiment in the absence of supervision of other agencies, because it was under the president directly. It earned people's wrath by recommending former North Korean spies and partisans, who died in prison resisting conversion, as contributors to Korea's democratization. And they exercised exclusive power by employing former North Korean spies and members of anti-state organizations as investigators and letting them probe military commanders and former defense ministers under the excuse of investigating suspicious deaths at military units.
Deal is made for defectors to come here
Government sources confirmed published reports yesterday that 400 North Korean defectors are expected to come to South Korea next week from an unidentified Southeast Asian country. No details of how the defectors gathered in the unnamed country were given. The group is expected to arrive in two chartered planes, the sources said, making this the largest number of North Korean refugees to enter the South at one time. As reports of the plan surfaced in press reports, government officials began to worry that the news might trigger a wave of defections from North Korea. Such a consequence could prompt diplomatic difficulties with North Korea and China.
According to the Unification Ministry, the total number of North Korean defectors who have come to South Korea rose to 5,179 as of the end of June. In 1993, 640 defectors came to the South. Last year, the number was 1,281.
Subsidy reductions expected for defectors
The amount of funds allotted to help North Korean defectors settle in South Korea is expected to decrease signficantly. With the revelations that hundreds of North Korean defectors will arrive in South Korea next week, the government held a meeting yesterday to deal with the growing number of those fleeing the North, and decided to cut the settlement fund of 35.9 million won ($30,770) to 20 million won. The measure will take effect next January. However, in cases in which a defector receives technological training or continuously works, he or she can receive an additonal 15.6 million won in subsidies. An official of the unification ministry said, "We have eliminated the special provision to defectors whereby they receive 540,000 won per month ? much higher than the lowest basic income of 320,000."
Remarks of Floor Leader of GNP under Fire
Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) -- Kim Tok Ryong, floor leader of the Grand National Party (GNP) of south Korea, talked rubbish about the firing incident caused by the south Korean navy in the West Sea a few days ago. He contended that it was confirmed "a patrol craft of the north side crossed the northern limit line" and that the north "told a lie." He cried that the government should sternly protest the "intrusion" and get "a promise to prevent its recurrence." Rodong Sinmun in a signed commentary Thursday says: It is intolerable that he dared take issue with the north, knowing nothing about the truth of the incident. This was an intentional provocation against the north which was committed undoubtedly with the encouragement of the military which does not want detente in the inter-Korean relations.
Negligence Led to Hotline Failure
Two Generals and Three Officers Face Disciplinary Action By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter The South Korean military failed to properly report the July 14 inter-Korean naval incident mainly due to the carelessness of the top brass and mid-level officials, a joint investigation concluded on Friday. President Roh Moo-hyun, after being briefed about the results of a weeklong investigation into the reporting failure, instructed Defense Minister Cho Young-kil to give ``warnings'' to those responsible, a lesser punishment than was than generally expected.
In a media conference at the Defense Ministry, Maj. Gen. Park Jung-jo said the event was caused by a mixture of the Navy's stiff alertness since the 2002 bloody naval clash between the two Koreas and some high-level officers' poor understanding of the recent development in inter- Korean relations.
Confusing ruling on Song
The Seoul High Court reversed a lower court decision imposing a seven-year prison term on Song Du-yul, a Korean-German sociologist, instead giving him a three-year suspended sentence with five years' probation. That decision by the appeals court prompted controversy because it cleared Mr. Song of the substantial charge that he was a Politburo member of the North Korean Workers' Party, a charge of which he was convicted in the original trial.
March for Korean Peace and Reunification Starts in Pyongyang
Pyongyang, July 21 (KCNA) -- An international march for Korean peace and reunification started here on July 21. A ceremony for the start of the march took place prior to it. Alejandro Cao de Benos, head of the marchers, declared its start. Then there began the march amid the bugle call and the playing of the song "We Are One." Mun Jae Chol, acting chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries who is chairman of the Korean Committee for Solidarity with World People, and others joined the marchers.
Negligence Led to Hotline Failure
Two Generals and Three Officers Face Disciplinary Action By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter The South Korean military failed to properly report the July 14 inter-Korean naval incident mainly because of the carelessness of the top brass and mid-level officials, a joint investigation concluded on Friday.[Role of ROK military]
400 NK Defectors to Arrive in Seoul Next Week
By Yoo Dong-ho Staff Reporter About 400 North Korean defectors will come to South Korea next week from a Southeast Asian nation, the Foreign Affairs-Trade Ministry said Friday. ``The asylum seekers will make their way to Seoul from an Asian country next week,'' a ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity. It would be the largest single group of North Koreans to be allowed to South Korea.
Parties Haggle Over NK Human Rights Bill
By Park Song-wu Staff Reporter The opposition Grand National Party (GNP) on Friday criticized the ruling Uri Party for its attempts to draft a resolution, opposing a bill recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives to promote human rights in North Korea.
Suspicious Deaths Panel Will Be Referred to Assembly
By Park Song-wu Staff Reporter The government and the ruling Uri Party on Friday decided to refer the Presidential Truth Commission on Suspicious Deaths to the National Assembly, which has, in particular, been dedicated to exploring mysterious deaths involving pro-democracy activists over the past four years. ``We agreed to place the presidential panel under the parliament because we think it is improper for the presidential office to be in charge of it,'' the Uri Party's Rep. Ahn Young- keun said.
Song Du-yul's Release
Rejection of Prosecution's Key Charges Deplorable The release of the controversial Korean-German scholar, Song Du-yul, has set off a new round of ideological confrontations between conservatives and progressives. It has also touched off debates over the principles of equal application of law. In addition, it will add fuel to demands that the national security law be scrapped or amended. Song, a former sociology professor at Germany's Muenster University, was freed Wednesday following the Seoul High Court's decision to sentence him to three years in jail with the term suspended for five years. He was given a seven-year jail term by a lower court in March.
NK Writer Wins Manhae Prize
A North Korean novelist has been named winner of the 19th Manhae Prize for Literature for the first time since the division of the Korean peninsula over half a century ago. Hong Sok-jung, 63, was chosen for his novel titled ``Hwangjini'' about a talented ``kisaeng'' or female entertainer during the Choson period (1392-1910), Changbi Publishers, a leading publisher in Seoul that gives the award, said Wednesday. The novel, published in Pyongyang in 2002, was introduced in the South last February.
Court says Song not Politburo member
A high court yesterday overturned an earlier ruling that South Korean-German dissident scholar Song Du-yul had been a Politburo member of the ruling North Korean Workers' Party.
But it upheld a lower court's conviction of Song, 59, for violating the National Security Law by holding frequent unauthorized meetings with the late North Korean leader Kim Il-sung and engaging in other pro-Pyongyang activities. [human rights]
Song Du-yul is freed after court of appeals overturns treason case
The Seoul High Court overturned yesterday the subversion conviction of Song Du-yul, a Korean- German sociologist tried for violations of the National Security Law. The appeals court cleared Mr. Song of the main charge brought by prosecutors that he was a Politburo member in the North Korean government. Mr. Song, who has been in custody since October last year, was released after the court decision.
New school aims at young North Koreans
The Ministry of Education has announced that it will open an alternative school in Icheon, Gyeonggi province for young North Korean defectors. Defectors aged 14 to 20 are eligible to attend the school.
Educational Workers in North and South Meet
Mt. Kumgang Resort, July 19 (KCNA) -- A pro- reunification meeting of educational workers in the north and the south of Korea was held at Mt. Kumgang resort Monday to implement the June 15 joint declaration
Acquittal of Song Du-yul Triggers Dispute Over Anti-Communist Law
By Park Song-wu Staff Reporter A high court's decision to release Song Du-yul, a Korean-German scholar accused of violating the National Security Law, has triggered a decade-old dispute over the necessity of the anti-communist law. Elated by the court decision to reject the prosecution's arguments that Song had violated the vaguely worded law, a number of Uri Party lawmakers, led by Rep. Im Jong-seok, are speeding up the drafting of a bill to abolish it.
Demands for Civilian Defense Chief Grow
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter With a military shakeup expected in the wake of the scandal over the military's misleading report of a July 14 inter-Korean naval incident, voices are rising for the government to appoint a nonmilitary defense minister. [Role of ROK military]
Roh Irate at Handling of Investigation Into Communication Failure
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter Chong Wa Dae strongly warned the military on Tuesday for failing to properly report last week's shooting incident involving a North Korean patrol boat in the West Sea, according to Officials [Role of ROK military]
Chong Wa Dae-Military Rift Widens
By Reuben Staines Staff Reporter Controversy surrounding the Navy's failure to report radio contacts with a North Korean boat that intruded into South Korean waters last week has opened a rift between President Roh Moo-hyun and the military. [Role of ROK military]
Military Hardliners Blamed for Naval Controversy
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter The political storm over a July 14 incident involving the navies of South and North Korea is a predictable result of the two militaries' resistance to the recent thawing in inter-Korean relations, government officials claimed Wednesday. With the controversy intensifying to reveal a rift between Chong Wa Dae and the military, a senior official on Wednesday argued the incident is symptomatic of fierce resistance to North- South cooperation by the armed forces on both sides of the border. ``There is a lot of resistance indeed from both sides' hardliners,'' the official said, ``even though the two Koreas have recently embarked on a set of measures to ease tensions across the heavily fortified border in line with the last month's agreement between the militaries.'' [Role of ROK military]
Cheong Wa Dae, military in conflict over alleged media leak
Controversy surrounding North Korea's violation last week of an inter-Korean maritime border escalated yesterday as the presidential office took issue with an alleged Defense Ministry leak of secret information on the incident to media. News reports said Cheong Wa Dae sent a verbal warning to the ministry after the details of communications between the navies were disclosed
"This is a matter of recognizing the president's authority, so the failure to report the information to the president cannot go unpunished," said Uri Rep. Kim Hee-sun. "The party should take stern measures about the military hiding information." Kim even mentioned the need for a far-reaching shakeup of the military, saying many senior generals were fostered under the former military dictatorships.
Panel to Review Case of Ex-President's Assassin
By Lee Jin-woo A government commission on Monday began to review the case of Kim Jae-kyu, the man who assassinated former President Park Chung-hee, to decide whether he contributed to the democratic movement in Korea by ending Park's 18-year-long dictatorship.
Roh Irate at Handling of Inquiry Into Hotline Failure
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter Chong Wa Dae is considering taking punitive steps against military officials found responsible for the ``misreporting'' of last week's shooting incident involving a North Korean patrol boat in the West Sea, sources said Tuesday. The presidential office was particularly disappointed at the military's attitude in justifying its act by allegedly colluding with some media despite President Roh Moo-hyun's order on Monday to further investigate into possible communication problems in the military's chain of command in regards to the naval incident. [Role of ROK military]
Rift Widens Between Chong Wa Dae, Military
By Reuben Staines Staff Reporter Controversy surrounding the Navy's failure to report radio contacts with a North Korean boat intruding into South Korean waters last week has opened a rift between President Roh Moo-hyun and the military. Chong Wa Dae officials on Tuesday hit out at military authorities for speaking to the media about their handling of the sea border incursion while the issue is still under investigation. [Role of ROK military]
GNP to Take Flexible Attitude Toward NK
By Park Song-wu Staff Reporter The opposition Grand National Party (GNP)'s chairwoman Park Geun-hye said Tuesday that she will take a more flexible attitude toward North Korea, but underlined that she will adhere to the two principles of democracy and market economy in inter-Korean policies.
Ministers Deny Inter-Korean Summit
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young flatly denied the possibility of an inter-Korean summit in the near future on Tuesday, pouring cold water on the recent speculation concerning the matter. Ahead of the Cabinet meeting presided over by President Roh Moo-hyun, Chung told reporters that he has ``no idea why some media keep building conjectures on the matter'' and assured that ``there is no negotiation process going on.''
Roh Orders Review of Communication Failure
[Role of ROK military] By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter President Roh Moo-hyun on Monday ordered a further investigation into possible communication problems in the military's chain of command in regards to last week's shooting incident involving a North Korean patrol boat. ``The most vital thing in the military's report to the president and the people about security is correctness,'' Roh was quoted as telling his aides. ``I think the recently completed probe is not sufficient enough.''
The military's ``false report'' on the naval incident, in the meantime, developed into a hot political issue as the ruling party openly demanded a thorough military reshuffle describing the case as ``disapproval of the president's leadership.''
Experts have pointed out that there are a number of people in the military who are not in favor of the recent developments in inter-Korean relations and the changed mood between the two Koreas.
Roh tells military to reinvestigate naval incident
N.K. cancels military talks with South President Roh Moo-hyun yesterday ordered the Defense Ministry to reinvestigate a recent flap involving the North and South Korean navies. Roh expressed his displeasure over the military's interim report for possibly misrepresenting or distorting some key details.
Roh wants another investigation to find out why navy officials may have lied about North Korea not sending any warning messages.
Lawmakers of the governing Uri Party say if a mistake was made, it could seriously affect North and South Korean efforts to avoid tension and build trust. Uri Rep. Kim Hee-sun said at a party meeting that the government should take stern measures in connection with the incident. Some in the party are calling for a major shakeup in military personnel, including replacement of Defense Minister Cho Yung-kil. "This is a matter of recognizing the president's authority, so the failure to report the information to the president cannot go unpunished," Kim said.
Navy says actions were proper
Detailing last week's encounter with a suspected North Korean patrol boat in the Yellow Sea near the inter-Korean maritime border, the South Korean Navy told the JoongAng Ilbo its commanders had gone by the book and rejected criticism there had been a communications lapse
NK Boat Briefly Crosses NLL Again
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter The fact-finding team looking into the ``false report'' by South Korea's military over last week's shooting incident involving a suspected North Korean patrol boat will disclose the interim results of its investigation on Monday, according to officials. In a related event, the South's Defense Ministry said Sunday that a vessel with unidentified nationality once again intruded into South Korean waters on the West Sea in the morning but retreated after receiving warnings.
Two Opposing Views Speak on Truth of KAL Case
By Jun Yang The controversy over the 1987 bombing of a Korean Air Line (KAL) plane is taking on a life of its own with the release of two books presenting opposing theories on the case. On one side of the spectrum is Ahn Dong-il, ex- lawyer for Kim Hyon-hee who was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court in 1990 for taking part in the bombing
However, Shin Dong-jin, secretary general of The Families of KAL 858 Victims who published ``KAL 858, Moonujin Soosabalpyo (KAL 858, Which Went Wrong From the Beginning)'' early this month, didn't stop there. ``The report on the investigation from the government on Jan. 15 in 1988 was all made up. When we know for sure that a black stone is not a diamond, we should try to know what it is then. But they didn't. The report didn't give us any of the 5 W's and 1 H,'' he said. Shin's book is a collection of all the suspicions that have been ever raised and accuses Kim of being a double spy for North Korea and the government.
False Military Report
Thorough Investigation Needed Into How and Why
It is appalling that the military covered up a vital fact concerning last week's naval incident in the West Sea. According to a Defense Ministry spokesman, the South Korean Navy fired warning shots at a suspected North Korean patrol boat, ignoring three radio messages from the latter. It was an abrupt turnabout from previous claims that the cannon shots were triggered by the lack of a North Korean response to repeated warnings. How the military could have made a false report on an incident that could have escalated into further armed clashes defies understanding.
The ad hoc investigation squad needs to conduct a thorough inquiry into the process and reasons for the cover-up. Particular emphasis should be placed on revealing whether this accident was intentionally caused by individuals disgruntled with the currently amicable military relationship between the two Koreas as some suspect. The Defense Ministry should severely punish those responsible for the incident, while examining the overall reporting system to prevent its recurrence. The military authorities of South and North Korea also need to check the operation of the naval hotline.
Overview of Intra-Korean Exchanges & Cooperation for May 2004
Navy accused of covering up radio message from N.K.
[Role of ROK military] The South Korean Navy received three radio messages from the North's navy Wednesday during a recent conflict in the West Sea, the Defense Ministry acknowledged yesterday in a reversal of an earlier statement. The South Korean Navy fired warning shots at what it thought was a North Korean patrol boat in spite of the messages, although it is unclear whether it did so before or after they were received. The incident has called the ministry's credibility into question, as it apparently means the messages were not communicated through the appropriate chain of command. "It's true that the North Korean naval vessel transmitted radio messages three times stating a descending ship was not their ship but a Chinese fishing boat,'" Brig. Gen. Nam Dae-yeon, a spokesman with the Defense Ministry, said in a news conference. The South initially claimed it fired two rounds of cannon shots into the air Wednesday as a North Korean patrol ship, which had briefly crossed the de facto western sea border, ignored the South's repeated warning messages to retreat. But the ministry acknowledged that it actually received a telegram using the international frequency from the North, which said: "The Southbound vessel is from the Chinese, not from us (the North)." "The Defense Ministry offers an apology to the people for this incident. As soon as an investigation is over, we will make its results public," Nam told reporters. Nam said it was unclear whether the vessel at which the South Korean ship fired warning shots was a North Korean ship or a Chinese fishing boat. He said the ministry had yet to receive any response from China. "The Navy fired warning shots in line with military operational standards, as it thought it was a North Korean patrol ship," Nam said. Nam said the ministry was investigating whether the South fired shots before it received the North's message or after, and why the Navy operating headquarters failed to report that to the Joint Chiefs of Staff as required. Nam said the ministry learned of the mistake from the government spy authority and confirmed it with the Navy. At President Roh Moo-hyun's orders, the Defense Ministry, the National Intelligence Service and other government agencies formed a task force to look into the case. Naval skirmishes in their disputed waters have caused dozens of casualties on both sides since 1999, with the last clash in June 2002 killing six South Korean sailors and wounding 18 others. North Korea admitted that it also suffered casualties but did not say how many. North Korea has never acknowledged the Northern Limit Line and has been demanding that a new maritime border be drawn. Earlier last month, the militaries of the rival Koreas agreed to take a set of steps to ease tension along their poorly marked western sea border, the site of two deadly naval gunbattles in 1999 and 2002. The measures include use of a shared radio frequency, establishment of a telephone hot line and exchange of information on illicit fishing by a third country, an apparent reference to China. The two Koreas are technically still in a state of war as their fratricidal 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. (smjoo@heraldm.com) By Joo Sang-min 2004.07.17
4th Anniversary of June 15 Joint Declaration Celebrated in Korea
The 4th anniversary of the publication of the historic June 15 joint declaration was celebrated in North and South Korea. During these four years, the relationship between North and South Korea has developed in various fields. This year, "the Meeting of Our Nation" was held in Inchon, South Korea, the "international Forum" was held in Seoul, South Korea, and a "Joint Photo Exhibition" was held in Pyongyang. "The Year 2005, Let It Be The First Year of Reunification"
N-S Exchanges on Congressmen's Level Suggested
The North and the South have had talks, contacts and exchanges on government and private levels since the North-South Pyongyang Summit in 2000. However, there have been no contact on congressmen's level. After the 17th general election in South Korea, reformist and progressive forces took the lead in suggesting an exchange between North and South Korean congressmen. Recently, other countries are also suggesting an exchange between North and South Korean congressman. Hartmut Koschyk, member of the Bundestag, who is chairman of the German-Korean Friencship Parliamentary Group, visited the DPRK and the South Korea one after another in early June. After his visit to two Koreas, he said that he suggested both the North and the South "to have a tripartite meeting among representatives of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, South Korean congressmen and congressmen of the German Bundestag in Berlin, in September, next year."
Second N-S General-level Military Talks Held
The second round of the North-South general-level military talks was held at Mt. Solak Resort of the South side on June 3 and 4. 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 Pak Jong Hwa, commodore of the Defense Ministry as chief delegate.
At the talks, both sides discussed the issues related to the prevention of accidental conflicts in the West Sea, the suspension of propaganda in the areas along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) and the removal the means of propaganda which were presented in the first round of the North-South general-level military talks and adopted an agreement.
According to the agreement, first, both sides agreed to exert joint efforts to achieve military detente and ensure a lasting peace on the Korean peninsula. Second, both sides agreed to take the following measures from June 15, 2004, to prevent accidental conflicts in the West Sea: 1) To strictly prevent vessels from standing in confrontation with each other in the West Sea. 2) To refrain from taking any unreasonable physical actions against each other's warships and civilian vessels in the West Sea. 3) To use 156.8,156.6MHz ultrashort mobile radios with a view to barring their ships from standing face to face with each other due to navigation errors, ship wreck and rescue, etc. and to preventing mutual misunderstanding. 4) To institute and apply regulations concerning flags and light signals as necessary supplementary means. 5) To share the view that accidental conflicts may occur in the course of intercepting and inspecting fishing boats of third countries illegally catching fish in the sensitive waters of the West Sea and cooperate with each other in the efforts to seek a diplomatic solution to this issue and exchange information about the movements of illegal fishing boats. 6) To use telecommunication lines available in the west coastal area for the time to exchange views on the matters raised in the West Sea.
South cites contact snafu with North
Prompting questions about how good communications are inside the South Korean military, the Ministry of National Defense acknowledged yesterday that North Korea had responded to the South's calls over a naval incident earlier this week, but word of the contact had not been passed up the chain of command.[Role of ROK military]
Missionary, 4 North Koreans arrive
Kim Hee-tae, a South Korean missionary who was arrested by Chinese authorities two years ago for helping North Korean defectors in China arrived in Seoul yesterday. Mr. Kim, 35, was allegedly helping North Korean defectors enter foreign missions in China when Chinese authorities arrested him in August 2002. On July 15, the Yanbian People's Court found him innocent of charges of "illegal trafficking" in defectors
New truth commission starts
It seems that the third Presidential Truth Commission on Suspicious Deaths will be launched soon. The Grand National Party, which opposed the revision of the special law that will facilitate appointing the third commission, has announced that it will examine the draft revision and make it possible for the commission to play its original role of its establishment.
NK Describes US, Japan as Main Enemies
By Jung Sung-ki Amid the dispute over the term ``main enemy'' when referring to North Korea, the North has been found to label the United States and Japan as its main enemies, not neighboring South Korea. According to some North Korean defectors who previously served in the People's Army, there are no documents or official commentaries that describe the South as the main enemy of the North, though the term ``enemy'' for South Korean and U.S. soldiers is used in unofficial or military documents. Instead, the North reportedly often calls the U.S. a ``mortal enemy'' and Japan a ``longstanding enemy,'' a source from the Defense Ministry said.
Bitter Days for Park Geun-hye
By Shim Jae-yun Staff Reporter Park Geun-hye, former chairwoman of the Grand National Party (GNP), has surfaced as a major newsmaker amid various political disputes. The eldest daughter of the former President Park Chung-hee has recently been maintaining a relatively low profile with little media exposure since she led the main opposition party in the general elections in April.
Park's troubles grew when the Uri Party resumed efforts to expand the scope of the investigation into pro-Japanese activities, mainly targeting her late father who served as a Japanese army officer during Japan's colonial rule in Korea.
Military to Be Probed for Coverup of NK Radio Messages
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter
South Korea's navy fired warning shots at a suspected North Korean patrol boat on Wednesday, even though it received the North's radio messages that it was chasing a Chinese fishing boat, according to the Defense Ministry on Friday. The ministry had initially claimed a South Korean navy ship fired two warning shots to repel a North Korean patrol boat as it had violated the western sea border after ignoring the South's repeated warning messages.
``It is not true that North Korea didn't respond to our calls,'' Brig. Gen. Nam Dae-youn, ministry spokesman, told a press briefing. ``We found that the North's navy had sent radio messages three times stating `the approaching ship is not our ship but a Chinese fishing boat.'' Nam explained the military authorities first learned about the mistake after receiving a complaint from Pyongyang, Thursday evening. President Roh Moo-hyun instructed Defense Minister Cho Young-kil to conduct a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of the case.
In the military, experts said, there are a number of people who are not in favor of the recent development in inter-Korean relations and the changed mood between the two Koreas.
Last month, the militaries of the rival Koreas agreed in rare general-grade Sources at Chong Wa Dae said a massive reshuffle of the military seems unavoidable given the presidential office's accumulated dissatisfaction over scandalous events involving military officials. [Role of ROK military]
North vessel intrudes and is chased
A North Korean patrol boat crossed the inter- Korean maritime border yesterday off the west coast, retreating only after South Korean naval units fired warning shots, South Korea's military headquarters said yesterday. The incident was the first North Korean violation of the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas, since the countries established a hot line to prevent skirmishes in the Yellow Sea. The radio communication channel was set up on June 15 in a measure intended to reduce tension.
Uri to Exclude NK From Anti-State List
By Yoon Won-sup Staff Reporter The ruling Uri Party is seeking to revise the National Security Law to exclude North Korea from the list of anti-state organizations, a move which is expected to create a stir in the entire political sphere.
ROK Navy Fires Warning Shots at NK Patrol Boat
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter A North Korean patrol boat briefly crossed the western sea border on Wednesday afternoon but retreated minutes later after receiving warning shots from the South Korean Navy, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
MBC Program Creates Stir Over Song
By Na Jeong-ju Staff Reporter These images are combined from an MBC program about Korean-German professor Song Du-yul that aired on Tuesday. From left are Hwang Jang-yup, the highest-ranking North Korean official to defect to the South; the late Workers' Party Secretary Kim Yong-soon; and Song. Song Du-yul, a Korean-German professor accused of violating the anti-communist law in March, is again facing media attention after a national television network aired a controversial program about his trial here on Tuesday night. In the 60-minute program, the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), a semi-state- owned public broadcaster, scanned his turbulent life in South Korea from his entrance last year after 37 years in exile in Germany due to his alleged pro-North Korean activities, to his court battle now. After the broadcasting, conservative dailies were up in arms, criticizing MBC for depicting him as a scapegoat of the anti-communist National Security Law, at the center of a political debate amid warming relationships with North Korea. [Human rights]
Conservatives Stick to NK as Main Enemy
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter Conservative forces, represented by the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) and some major local dailies, claimed it was absurd to scrap the term ``main enemy'' when referring to North Korea, in defiance of the government's recent move to that end.
Chong Wa Dae Under Fire for Posting Indecent Photo of GNP Leader
By Yoon Won-sup Staff Reporter The major opposition Grand National Party (GNP) on Wednesday strongly criticized Chong Wa Dae for posting an parody photo featuring party leader Park Geun-hye lying partially naked in bed with a man on its official Web site.
Incredible Denunciation
Do Human Rights Exist in North Korea? It is commonly known that North Korea is one of the worst violators of human rights in the world, ruthlessly suppressing any dissident voices. Anybody will certainly laugh at the North if the world's most rigid Stalinist regime denounces the South for infringing on human rights. But such an incredible denunciation was launched by a North Korean association for research on human rights Saturday.
It is commonly known that North Korea is one of the worst violators of human rights in the world, ruthlessly suppressing any dissident voices. Anybody will certainly laugh at the North if the world's most rigid Stalinist regime denounces the South for infringing on human rights. But such an incredible denunciation was launched by a North Korean association for research on human rights Saturday. The spokesman of the dubious Northern body severely railed at the main opposition Grand National Party and some conservatives for stifling a move to honor two North Korean spies who had died in prison refusing to change sides.
The Presidential Truth Commission on Suspicious Deaths triggered the controversy as it requested that they be recognized as fighters for democratization because they struggled to abolish undemocratic laws until their deaths.
`Kim Jong-il's Visit Not Propaganda'
By Yoo Dong-ho Staff Reporter Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said on Monday North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's possible reciprocal visit to Seoul will not be used for political ends. On the first day of a parliamentary interpellation session on foreign, unification and security affairs, Chung denied reports that the government is seeking an inter-Korean summit in the near future. ``There is no tangible progress in the much-rumored inter-Korean summit.'' ``We can pursue a summit if either the North Korean nuclear issue is resolved to some extent or we see the possibility of the summit helping make meaningful and important progress on the nuclear issue,'' said the 52-year-old top official in charge of inter-Korean affairs. The former ruling Uri Party chairman, however, said, ``I don't agree with the notion that Kim's return visit will cause further confusion in the nation.''
KAL Bombing Constant Source of Dispute
[Terrorism] By Park Song-wu Staff Reporter The ruling party's plan to launch a new investigation into the 1987 bombing of a Korean Air (KAL) passenger plane is facing strong resistance from the nation's conservative circle, including the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) and the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
The Boeing 747 from Abu Dhabi to Seoul via Bangkok exploded over the Indian Ocean when a bomb on board was detonated, killing 115 passengers, including 20 crew members. The NIS concluded that two North Korean agents, including Kim Hyon- hee, blew up the plane under a direct order from North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to thwart the opening of the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988. The female spy was brought to Seoul on Dec. 15, a day before the presidential election, in which Roh Tae-woo, then the ruling party's candidate, was elected. There has been a suspicion that some spy agents loyal to Roh and his predecessor Chun Doo-hwan had plotted the bombing to bounce back the popularity of the then ruling camp in the lead up to the 1987 presidential election. It was common for the past regimes in the South to use the North's potential military threat as a bait for the public to vote for the ruling party candidates, who argued they had strong and stable power to protect the country. The Supreme Court sentenced Kim Hyon-hee to death in March 1990. But Roh, the then head of state, gave her a special pardon the next month. In December 1997 she married a secret agent who had guarded her. Many domestic media, including The Korea Times, had tried to contact her for an interview, but she declined. Her testimony is considered a key to solving the current controversy over the truth of the KAL accident because there has been a strong argument that Kim was not a North Korean spy at all.

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