ROK and Inter-Korean relations November 2006

ROK and Inter-Korean relations

November 2006

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Group seeks to rewrite history
New conservative textbook offers praise for military regimes November 30, 2006 ? A new Korean history book to be issued by a conservative civic group of scholars praises the economic success of the country's dictatorships and calls the 1961 military coup a "revolution," according to a draft made public yesterday. "Existing textbooks define the Park Chung Hee and Chun Doo Hwan administrations as dictatorships and treats them as if there were nothing to talk about," said Seoul National University's ethics education professor Park Hyo-chong, who heads the civic group, called TextForum. "But we believe that was the time that Korea laid the foundation to become the world's 12th-largest economy, and democratization was able to take place on top of such economic growth."
Don't excuse a dictatorship
[EDITORIALS] A new-right organization will publicize today its alternative history books about modern Koean history. The textbook reportedly praises military dictatorships in the past and criticizes the democracy movement. The book also calls the military coup "the revolution" and says the appearance of the new form of ruling successfully led to industrialization. Military dictatorships were glorified as a system that managed the country well. Although Chun Doo Hwan assumed power through a coup, his administration improved the country, the book states.
Labor Party Officials Visit Kaesong Complex
By Kim Sue-young Staff Reporter Top officials of the minor opposition Democratic Labor Party (DLP) Monday visited the Kaesong Industrial Complex in North Korea about 20 days after their visit to the North's capital Pyongyang. ``This is sort of a sequel to the last visit to Pyongyang and moves to consolidate the party's image of peace on the Korean Peninsula,'' a party official said.
Rodong Sinmun on Remarks of S. Korean Retired Political Figures
Pyongyang, November 27 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today denounces former President of the Grand National Party of south Korea Ri Hoe Chang and traitors Kim Young Sam and Kim Jong Phil for their nonsensical remarks about "crisis" and "role" against the north. The paper in a signed commentary says that their reckless anti-reunification remarks are a proof of the serious political crisis of the conservative forces in south Korea. All of them pursued inter-Korean confrontation and war in the past, enforcing the medieval fascist rule over the people with the backing of the U.S., the paper says, and goes on: It is foolish for those traitors to try to reverse the dynamic advance of the June 15 era of reunification. The south Korean people should ostracize them and other remnants of the pro-American fascist dictatorship whose days are numbered and the GNP, their assembly centre, with a grand joint struggle against the conservative forces.
North, South journalists to meet today
November 29, 2006 ? Journalists from North and South Korea will meet for the first time in 60 years today to discuss ways to promote inter-Korean exchanges and reconciliation, organizers said yesterday. The two-day meeting, scheduled to start today at Mount Kumgang, a scenic resort on North Korea's east coast, will bring together 123 from South Korea and 50 from the North, according to a statement from the South Korea-based Journalists Association of Korea.
President Roh Speaks of Quitting
Embattled President Hints at Cutting Ties With Governing Uri Party
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter
President Roh Moo-hyun said Tuesday that he hopes he would not become the first head of state who resigns dishonorably before the five-year tenure expires and did not rule out the possibility of cutting ties with the governing Uri Party
South Korea needs to keep balance on N.K. issue: professor S.K. only country with power to counter U.S., Japan
The U.S. may change its policy on Northeast Asia after the Republican party's defeat in mid-term elections, said Gavan McCormack, an emeritus professor at Australian National University.
Amid this climate, Professor McCormack said on November 24 that the only way to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis is for South Korea to fend off pressures from the U.S. and Japan and to play a central role in the resolution. The biggest problem in the North Korean nuclear matter is that the meaning of the historical hardship suffered by North Korea leading up to today, from Japanese colonial rule and the Korean War to today's economic hardship, are being buried in oblivion, he continued. South Korea, not China, is the only country that has the power to fend off the U.S, stressed McCormack, who is cited as one of the staunchest opponents against current U.S. policy on North Korea. [Realignment]
In South Korea's prisons, double standards abound
Quality of facilities and food vary for foreign, domestic prisoners [Human rights]
‘Dear Pyongyang' a moving tale of a family and country divided
November 28, 2006 ? The title of the film "Dear Pyongyang" has two implications. On one hand, it indicates the director's personal journey to the ideological home of her family. Yet it also plays with the political nuance of the word, which is used to address North Korea's "dear leader" Kim Jong-il. "The audience in Japan couldn't believe my title after the North's abduction of Japanese civilians," says Yang Young-hee, the director who is also the film's narrator. "But it's the only place on earth where all our family can come together. To my father, it's an ideological home. For my brother, it was the home of a better future. For my nephews, it's an accidental home of their birth." The film won the Best Asian Film Award at the Berlin International Film Festival and a Jury's Award at Sundance this year.
`Korean War Caused by North Korea's Invasion'
By Kim Sue-young Staff Reporter
Kim Geun-tae, chairman of the Uri Party Rep. Kim Geun-tae, chairman of the governing Uri Party, said the 1950-53 Korean War was caused by an invasion by the Stalinist North Korea. But he defended President Roh Moo-hyun’s remarks, describing the war as a civil war.
Defense Minister Vows Readiness Against N. Korea
By Jung Sung-ki Staff Reporter New Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo Friday pledged to intensify efforts centered on the upgrade of intelligence, surveillance and precision strike capabilities to further develop war-fighting readiness against North Korea’s possible nuclear threat. [Military balance]
Uri Party Chief Calls for S-N Summit
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter Uri Party Chairman Kim Geun-tae on Friday called for an ``unconditional summit’’ between President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to end the longstanding nuclear standoff and bring a peace regime to the Korean Peninsula.
6 Detained for Rally Violence
Police arrested six demonstrators Saturday on charges of leading violence and obstructing public affairs during last Wednesday’s anti- globalization rally in Kwangju. [Human rights]
Koreans in Bangladesh Advised to Be Alert for Terror
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) collected intelligence of possible attacks by a terrorist group in Bangladesh against the peoples from countries which sent troops to Iraq and advised South Korean residents and travelers to be alert. The spy agency said it collected intelligence that the Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) plans terror attacks against the countries which dispatched troops to Iraq, although South Korea has not been mentioned specifically. [Tradeoff]
Diplomats Slapped for Not Helping POW
By Park Song-wu Staff Reporter South Koreans are expressing anger again after watching an eight-year-old video clip on the Internet, showing an old and weak South Korean prisoner of war (POW), who had just fled North Korea, make a phone call to the South Korean Embassy in China to ask for a help, but being flatly turned down. [Refugee reception]
Soju War of Different Kind
Jinro Corp. and Doosan Liquor, two top makers of soju, a popular Korean liquor, are fighting a fierce war that has elements of a detective story, a corporate rivalry, a sense of nationalism and, above all, money. On Tuesday, Jinro, which accounts for more than a half of the soju market, estimated at 2.4 trillion won last year, filed a suit against Promo Factory seeking damages worth 10 billion won. Promo Factory is Doosan’s public relations agent.
Japanese, Chinese Web Sites Blamed for Spoiling Korean Image
By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Many Koreans get angry over some foreign Web sites that despoil the Korean image. ``Korea has the highest percentage of date rape, and the country rewrites history because of jealousy for Japan.'' (linkflash.hp.infoseek.co.jp) ``Korean girls give the best sex, I love them all.'' (worldwidebabes.com) This is how two Web sites hosted abroad introduced Korea. [country image]
Pyongyang official warns Seoul over U.N. rights vote
From news reports A North Korean official yesterday warned that Seoul's decision to vote in favor of a U.N. resolution on North Korea's human rights would adversely impact inter-Korean relations. "It would not have a positive influence" on inter-Korean relations, Kim Myong-gil, deputy chief of North Korea's mission to the United Nations in New York, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. Kim condemned the vote as interference in its internal affairs.
Minister-designate says vote on N.K. rights will hurt ties
Unification Minister-designate Lee Jae-joung said yesterday inter-Korean relations would be inevitably hurt by Seoul's planned support for a U.N. resolution criticizing North Korea's human rights record. But the action should not be read as indicating a fundamental shift in the South's policy of engagement with the communist country, he told a parliamentary confirmation hearing. "Inter-Korean relations will face difficulties following Seoul's vote on the resolution, but I believe the problem would be settled if we make continued efforts based on the current comprehensive approach toward resolution of the North Korean issue," Lee said. "I believe the underlining principle of inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation should never be altered." South Korea was set to vote for the first time for a U.N. resolution on the North's human rights, a distinct departure from its previous low-key approach toward the communist neighbor's human rights situation. Seoul has either been absent or abstained from voting on all four resolutions since 2003, worrying that it would provoke the North and sour inter-Korean relations. The communist nation considers the U.N.'s criticism on its human rights conditions as an action aimed at toppling its regime. Lee also said Seoul's decision to support the resolution was inevitable as its role in the United Nations has been expanded following the recent appointment of a South Korean as its next chief. "Seoul plans to vote in favor of the resolution as it assumes a responsibility as a country which became a U.N. member 15 years ago and has now produced a U.N. secretary-general." [Dilemma] [Ban Ki-moon]
Lee Jae-joung Wrong as Unification Minister: Opposition
A Sane Man Among the Lunatics
Most opposition lawmakers feel unification minister-designate Lee Jae-joung is the wrong man for the job after a parliamentary confirmation hearing on Friday. They took issue with both his views on history and inter-Korean matters and his ability to carry out unification policies. Asked by independent lawmaker Chung Mong-joon if he thought North Korea’s Juche or self-reliance ideology and Songun or military-first policy were beneficial to North Koreans and unification, Lee said they were merely the North’s ruling principles, rather than something that can be judged beneficial or otherwise. The answer prompted other lawmakers to ask if he meant he supports the ideologies, but Lee said he did not.
S. Korean Bellicose Forces' Reckless Arms Buildup under Fire
Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- The south Korean bellicose forces should ponder over the grave consequences to be entailed by their reckless arms buildup and stop at once their moves to develop ultra-modern war equipment, which will only lead to their self-destruction, warns a spokesman for the Korean National Peace Committee in a statement released on Nov. 15. The south Korean bellicose forces announced on Nov. 9 that they rounded off the development of a mobile radar system as part of the "work to develop active protection mechanism" now under way at the cost of 12 billion won from 2003 to 2008, and would begin its test operation from 2007, the statement said, and continued: They are loud-mouthed that they have indigenously developed a fuel cell for submarine in the wake of their announcement that tanks developed by south Korea would be deployed at combat units from 2011
DLP Member 'Planned 100 Terror Attacks in 1998'
A Terror Attack on the Press Chosun Honorary Chairman Suffers Hate Attack A Democratic Labor Party member and failed North Korean spy planned terror attacks against 100 leading conservative and other figures in 1998, prosecutors say. They said Park Jong-ki told investigators he planned to attack former president Chun Doo-hwan, Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee, Chosun Ilbo president Bang Sang-hoon and former North Korean Workers’ Party official Hwang Jang-yup, who defected to the South the previous year. Park allegedly already staked out the homes of three of them, including Bang. An investigator quoted Park as saying he had on several occasions tried to purchase a gun but decided it would be too difficult to carry out a series of single attacks and scrapped his plans. He is still being grilled about any other action he may have taken to realize his plans. [NSL]
Minister-Nominee Eyes Inter-Korean Hotline
By Jung Sung-ki Staff Reporter
Unification Minister-nominee Lee Jae-joung speaks during a National Assembly hearing, Friday. /Yonhap The unification minister nominee said Friday he will push for setting up a ``hotline’’ with North Korea to help improve inter-Korean relations and prevent possible clashes over issues of mutual concern.
Korea University’s Thumbs-Down for Reform
Ousted Korea University President Has no Regrets Euh Yoon-dae, the incumbent president of Korea University, was on Monday disqualified from seeking a second term after more than half of some 900 professors voted to drop him from a list of finalists. The country’s most prominent CEO-style university president, Euh was one of three disqualified from among nine candidates.
But the school’s professors wanted rid of him. Not a few chafed at his demand that they lecture in English, while others complained of favoritism for certain faculties, the College of Business Administration not least among them. Some argued that you cannot run a university like a business. What is for sure is that his reforms required painful changes.
Seoul concedes, will condemn North on rights
Unification aides are overruled; ‘yes' by South would be a first November 17, 2006 ? After a bitter internal debate, the South Korean government said yesterday that it would break with tradition and support for the first time a United Nations resolution condemning North Korean human rights practices. The vote is expected today. [Friction] [Dilemma] [Manipulation] [US dominance]
Seoul to Back UN Resolution on N. Korean Human Rights
By Park Song-wu Staff Reporter
South Korea on Thursday decided to vote for a U.N. General Assembly resolution on North Korea's human rights situation, a senior government official said. The fact that a South Korean will be the next secretary-general of the United Nations might have led Seoul to change its stance, which formerly looked irreversible in light of the continuation of its economic engagement policy with Pyongyang. [Friction] [Dilemma] [Manipulation] [US dominance]
Pak Kun Hye's Shameful Behavior under Fire
Pyongyang, November 10 (KCNA) -- Internet broadcasting of south Korea "Voice of People" on Nov. 8 released a commentary titled "Why have you Pak Kun Hye been to north if you feel ashamed of visiting it?" The Grand National Party of south Korea is busy criticizing the Democratic Workers' Party for its visit to Mangyongdae and Pak Kun Hye who visited Pyongyang and her information spokesperson are making incoherent remarks, the commentary noted, and went on: The point at issue is not whether they had been to Mangyongdae or not but her interpretation of the visit. Her volt face cannot be construed otherwise than an untrustworthy despicable act. One can hardly understand why she is taking so much pain to say no to visits to the north. It is deplorable, indeed, that she is still in the grip of the Cold War way of thinking. The bad habit of abusing the south-north relations for enforcing domestic policies dates back to the days of Park Chung Hee's rule. It is no exaggeration to say she is very like her father. She had better know well her support rate is plummeting against the backdrop of a crisis on the Korean Peninsula not because she is female but because of her lack of philosophy as she goes against good faith and is ignorant of the national issue.
S. Korean Authorities Accused of Blocking Visits to Pyongyang
Pyongyang, November 9 (KCNA) -- The south Korean authorities disallowed the visits to Pyongyang by the visiting group of south Korean youths and students for reunification, representatives of various reunification movement organizations, non-governmental aid organizations and religious organizations. Such action is a reckless act of hamstringing the process of reconciliation and cooperation between the north and the south as it is quite contrary to the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration and the trend of the times. Rodong Sinmun Thursday observes this in a signed commentary.
Stop to Fabrication of "Spy Ring Case" Demanded
Pyongyang, November 7 (KCNA) -- The Educational Information Committee of the Federation of Koreans in the U.S. reportedly made public a statement on Oct. 31 urging the Intelligence Service of south Korea, which is trying to chill the ardent desire of the Korean people to reunify the country by inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation, to immediately stop the fabrication of a "spy ring case." Noting that IS of south Korea was now maneuvering to cook up a "spy ring case" called "single-minded association", the statement said: It is obviously a co-product of IS and the pro-U.S. conservative forces, which is a political terrorism with an eye on the next "presidential election".
Spy Agency to Extend Probe of Rights Violations
By Lee Jin-woo Staff Reporter The National Intelligence Service (NIS) Wednesday said it has decided to extend the operation of a fact-finding body on the spy agency’s past human rights violation cases for another year. Since November 2004, the special committee named the NIS Development Committee for Clarifying the Past, has re-investigated seven major allegations involving the NIS, including the KAL 858 bombing in 1987, and the era of authoritarian government in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Of the seven cases, the investigation result of the 1973 kidnapping of Kim Dae-jung, then an opposition leader who later became the nation’s president, has not been disclosed yet in Japan, due to concerns that it could cause a diplomatic conflict between the two neighboring countries, committee officials said. [Human rights] [Disinformation] [KAL858]
Defense, Welfare Budget to Grow About 9% by 2010
By Yoon Ja-young Staff Reporter National defense, welfare and education will be key sectors in government financing for a few years to come, while industry and social overhead capital (SOC) projects will have to depend on private capital. The budget for national defense, welfare and education will increase around 8 percent to 9 percent yearly on average, the Ministry of Planning and Budget said Wednesday after handing in its National Finance Management Plan for 2006 through 2010 to the National Assembly. The budget for the industry and SOC sectors, however, will see only 0.7 percent annual increase on average. In national defense, which will see around an 8.4-percent budget increase each year, priority is on strengthening the military. [Military balance]
Why Roh Went to See Kim Dae-jung
Did Roh Seek Sage Advice on State Affairs? President Roh Moo-hyun visited former president Kim Dae-jung at his home in Seoul on Saturday. In a turn-up for the books, the two and their wives had a two-hour meal together after an hour looking around the Kim Dae Jung Presidential Library. Roh and Kim have not seen eye to eye since the administration took office
Korea taking steps to promote hallyu
October 17, 2006 ? With the number of Chinese fans of Korean pop culture rising every year despite concerns about the staying power of the exports, the Korean government has been coming up with several new plans in recent months to support the hallyu boom in China. To promote Korea's traditional and pop culture to people living in the southeastern part of China, the Korean Tourism Organization is building a public relations office in Guangzhou. Dubbed "Korea Plaza," the center will be one of three new foreign offices the organization is establishing by 2010 in locations in Asia where more hallyu fans reside than anywhere else. [Softpower]
Labor Party Brings Home‘Disputed Fruits’ From North
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter Lawmakers from the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) leave Incheon International Airport guarded by police as conservative group members stage a rally to protest against their five-day visit to North Korea on Saturday./ Korea Times A delegation of the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) returned home from a five-day visit to North Korea with what it called ``fruits’’ in hand, but the political debate has deepened as conservatives here increased their criticism of the minor opposition party. Led by the party chairman, Moon Sung-hyun, the 13-member delegation told reporters at a press conference on Saturday that a high-level North Korean official said Pyongyang intends to discuss the resumption of cross-border family reunions with Seoul. DLP lawmakers told reporters that Kim Yong-nam, president of North Korea’s Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, asked them to deliver the message to Han Wan-sang, president of South Korea’s National Red Cross (KNRC).
UN Sympathizes With ‘Conscientious Objectors’
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter A United Nations committee on human rights expressed its concern on Friday about South Korea’s punitive rules against citizens who refuse to serve in the military, often called ``conscientious objectors.’’ One of the seven U.N.-linked human rights treaty bodies, the U.N. Human Rights Committee, also urged South Korea to revise its anti-communist National Security Law, cautioning against the possibility that it could be misused for political purposes. [Human rights] [National Security Law]
Reckless Moves to Increase Force of NSL Denounced in S. Korea
Pyongyang, November 2 (KCNA) -- The south Korean Internet Radio Voice of People on Oct. 26 accused the south Korean security authorities of making desperate efforts to increase the force of the "National Security Law (NSL)". The radio drew attention to the fact that the security authorities were orienting their investigation into the case of Choe Hui Jong, permanent researcher of the "south Korean Institute for Civil Rights Studies," to an investigation into "forces of backstage organization". The security authorities are intensifying the investigation into even the students' movement and activities of members of progressive organizations in the past days on charges of violation of the NSL, the radio said. This suggests the increasing possibility that the oppression of the security authorities might be expanded to an offensive against the pan-democratic forces, it said, adding: The force of NSL is being increased by the moves of the security authorities. The evil laws itself cannot be justified with any logic.
Moon Sung-hyun talks with Kim Yong-nam
Moon Sung-hyun, left, chairman of the Democratic Labor Party, talks with Kim Yong-nam, North Korea's No. 2 leader, at Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang, Friday. Kim said North Korea had no other alternative but to develop nuclear weapons in order to protect itself. [Photo]
Air-to-air missile
Air-to-air missile: An F-4E fighter jet of the Air Force launches an AIM-7M Sparrow air-to-air missile during an aerial combat training exercise over the west coast, Friday. The AIM-7M, which entered service in 1982, is a radar-guided, medium-range air-to-air missile with a high-explosive warhead. The missile uses a semi-active radar homing guidance and either continuous wave or pulse doppler radar for target illumination. It flies at a maximum speed of Mach 4 and has an effective target range of 70 kilometers. [Military balance]
Roh says talks with the North are inevitable
November 03, 2006 ? President Roh Moo-hyun used an address to a group of foreign investors in Korea yesterday to lay out a strongly worded defense of his engagement policy with North Korea. He told them that if they understood the reasons any South Korean president, regardless of his political leanings, was fated to keep talking to Pyongyang, "Korea would not seem such an insecure place." [Dilemma]
Concealed trip to birthplace of Kim Il Sung gets criticism
November 03, 2006 ? A visit by Democratic Labor Party members to the birthplace of North Korea's late founder ? reported Wednesday night by one of the communist country's news outlets, not by the party itself ? attracted heavy criticism yesterday in South Korea's political arena. The Democratic Labor Party's delegation, led by its chairman Moon Sung-hyun, arrived at Pyongyang on Tuesday. That day, the South Koreans visited Mangyongdae, the birthplace of Kim Il Sung. However, the Democratic Labor Party made no mention of the stop when it briefed journalists the next day about the delegates' activities. North Korea Central TV, however, aired footage of the visit later on Wednesday. [Human rights] [National Security Law]
Culture Minister Promotes 6 Traditional Brands
By Kim Tae-jong Staff Reporter Actor-turned-Culture and Tourism Minister Kim Myung-gon wants to be remembered as the chief campaigner of the so-called ``six Hs'' (6Hs) for the marketing of Korean traditional brands. The 6Hs are ``hangul,'' the Korean alphabet; ``hansik,'' food; ``hanbok,'' costumes; ``hanok,'' houses; ``hanji,'' mulberry paper; and ``hankuk umak,'' music. In an interview with The Korea Times, he expressed confidence that the 6Hs will help Korea promote its culture overseas and develop backward rural villages through exports. He said these 6Hs are long-ignored symbols of Korea and are good tools to differentiate Korea from the rest of the world.
Singer Recalls Tragic Day 27 Years On
By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Sim Soo-bong, a singer who is assumed to have witnessed the assassination of former President Park Chung-hee in 1979, revealed the story behind the incident to the Asahi Shimbun, a Japanese daily newspaper.
In her first interview with Japanese media, 51-year-old Sim confessed that the assassination of Park on Oct. 26, 1979, changed her life completely. She had visited the former president's banquets three times
Take off blinders over the North's nukes
Even if the North has no intention to attack the South with its nuclear weapons, its possession of n The situation is truly incomprehensible. Is it because the Sunshine Policy is too brilliant to behold, or because we intentionally look away from the North Korean nuclear crisis? For some reason, our country's diplomatic and security strategy is almost blind to the North's nuclear ambitions. No country except South Korea is actually threatened by North Korea's nuclear armament. To aim at Japan or the United States, the North would have to make its nuclear weapons small. It would take years to develop. So, at the moment, South Korea is the only place where the North can explode the bomb. In case North Korea is slapped with military sanctions while trying to transfer nuclear substances to other countries, South Korea is also the only possible target of retaliation by the North.
S. Korean Party Delegation Here
Pyongyang, October 31 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Democratic Workers' Party of south Korea led by its representative Mun Song Hyon arrived here Tuesday. It was met at the airport by Kim Yong Dae, chairman of the Central Committee of the Korean Social Democratic Party, and officials concerned.
New Team to Continue Engagement Policy
By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter President Roh Moo-hyun's reshuffle of his security and foreign affairs team yesterday revealed the government's determination to maintain its basic approaches to the United States and North Korea. The government policy of economically engaging the communist North will not likely be changed much after the shakeup, officials said. Roh nominated Lee Jae-jeong, 62, senior vice president of the presidential National Unification Advisory Council, as the unification minister and Song Min-soon, 58, top presidential secretary for security affairs, as the minister of foreign affairs and trade. He also picked up Kim Jang-soo, 58, Army chief of staff, as the new defense minister and promoted Kim Man-bok, 60, the first deputy director for international affairs at the National Intelligence Service (NIS), to the top post of the anti-espionage agency. [Continuities]
Journal Aims to Serve for Regional Prosperity
[Academy] By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter The inaugural issue of Global Asia was published on Sept. 25 as an English-language biannual journal in the region aiming to give voice to the global dimension of what is happening in Asia, according to the editors. Moon Chung-in, a professor of political science at Yonsei University in Seoul and editor-in-chief of the new journal, said that Global Asia would provide a forum where ``Asia speaks to the world and the world to Asia.''
Spy suspect linked to North Korean payments
November 01, 2006 ? Prosecutors said yesterday that Jang Min-ho, the chief suspect in a continuing espionage investigation, had received a total of $19,000 from North Korean intelligence officials to set up what they called a spy ring. Mr. Jang allegedly received $10,000 during a trip to Pyongyang in 1989 and the remainder at several meetings with North Korean officials in Beijing. [National Security Law]
Minister supports a second summit
November 01, 2006 ? South Korea's point man on North Korean affairs yesterday said he believes a second inter-Korean summit could help ease the tension sparked by North Korea's recent nuclear test, but stopped short of saying whether the government was pushing for a meeting between the leaders of the divided Koreas. "There are certain factions (in our society) that say the government is to blame for the North Korean nuclear test that took place. But I believe there needs to be an inter-Korean summit despite such claims," Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok told the parliamentary committee on unification, foreign affairs and trade.
ROK Military exercises
Military exercises: Soldiers of the 9th Army Division build a float ribbon bridge before a river-crossing operation at a river in Paju, Kyonggi Province, Tuesday. [Photo] [Military balance]
Sunshine Policy Survives Uncertain Times
By Park Song-wu Staff Reporter President Roh Moo-hyun, second from right, talks with former presidents about North Korea's nuclear test in this file photo taken at Chong Wa Dae on Oct. 10, a day after the North tested a nuclear weapon. From left are Chun Doo-hwan, Kim Dae-jung, Roh and Kim Young-sam. /Korea Times File Many South Koreans still think the nation should maintain its ``sunshine policy'' of economically engaging North Korea, despite Pyongyang's nuclear test that defied Seoul's reconciliation efforts. Forty-six percent of the respondents to The Korea Times poll said it is necessary to review and modify Seoul's North Korea policy, but said the policy's principle should remain untouched.
Seoul Mulls Buying F-35 Fighter Jets
By Jung Sung-ki Staff Reporter A F-35 Lightening II fighter jet The Air Force is considering purchasing F-35 Lightening II fighter jets of the U.S. Lockheed Martin as part of its second-phase aircraft procurement project beginning next year, a top Air Force official said yesterday. [Military balance] [Arms sales] [Proliferation]
Labor Party Delegation Arrives in Pyongyang
By Lee Jin-woo Staff Reporter The 13-member delegation of the minor opposition Democratic Labor Party (DLP) arrived in Pyongyang yesterday despite criticism from conservative groups in South Korea. The visit is the first by a South Korean political party since North Korea’s nuclear test on Oct. 9. The main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) has strongly opposed the visit, raising suspicions about the ongoing investigations into an espionage case allegedly involving two of the progressive party’s former and incumbent officials. The DLP dismissed such claims and made it clear that the visit is aimed at urging the North to give up its nuclear weapons program. [National Security Law]
Party delegation heads to Pyongyang
October 31, 2006 ? With its deputy leader jailed on espionage charges, a Democratic Labor Party delegation left for Pyongyang yesterday. The 13-member delegation, including Moon Sung-hyun, the party's chairman, stopped in Beijing and will arrive in Pyongyang today. They will be visiting the North until Nov. 4 at the invitation of the North Korean Social Democratic Party. "Our footsteps are very heavy because we are heading to North Korea while an espionage investigation is going on, targeting our party," Mr. Moon told press at the airport.
Base Anti-North Campaign of S. Korean Public Security Authorities Assailed
Pyongyang, October 30 (KCNA) -- The prosecution and the "Intelligence Service" of south Korea are now busy kicking up a racket of arrest and investigation against five former and incumbent leading members of the Democratic Workers' Party by invoking the "National Security Law" (NSL), charging that they "got in touch with an "operative of the north" and "are suspected of visiting the north without permission." They are crying out for spreading the dragnet of investigation, asserting that there may be in the political and opposition camps more student leader-turned politicians believed to have got in touch with operatives of the north. [National Security Law]
Spy Suspects in Hunger Strike
By Kim Tong-hyung Staff Reporter Prosecutors investigating a possible espionage involving members of the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) are trying to confirm whether more people, including lawmakers and civic activists, cooperated in the alleged spying activities for North Korea. [National Security Law] [Human rights]
Ruling Party, Cheong Wa Dae Furious at NIS Chief
Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling party are up in arms after the Chosun Ilbo published remarks by the outgoing National Intelligence Service chief Kim Seong-kew on Monday hinting at political pressure to drop the investigation into a spying scandal. Kim said "Everyone [in the NIS] will work hard to investigate the North Korean spy ring case, even if it costs them their job." Since the scandal concerns key figures in the so-called 386 generation of former student activists now close to the centers of power, Kim said the next NIS chief should not be someone "who does what politicians want him to do." [National Security Law]

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