ID :
51063
Wed, 03/18/2009 - 09:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/51063
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea denounces Yemen terrorist bombing
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, March 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea strongly condemned on Tuesday a recent terrorist bombing in Yemen that killed four South Korean tourists and wounded three others.
Foreign ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said his country has been formally
notified by Yemeni authorities that al-Qaida is responsible for Sunday's attack
in the historic city of Shibam, about 90 km east of the Yemeni capital, Sanna.
The tourists' Yemeni driver was also killed.
"The South Korean government cannot conceal its astonishment at the revelation
that the incident has turned out to be a terrorist attack," Moon said in a
statement.
But he said it remains unclear whether the attack targeted South Koreans or
unspecified foreigners.
"Our government will closely cooperate with the Yemeni government in
investigating and handling the case," Moon said.
An 18-year-old boy was identified as a suspect suicide bomber linked to al-Qaida.
A local news agency, NewsYemen, reported that he posed for a photo with the
tourist group before blowing himself up on Sunday night (Seoul time). The South
Korean tourists were enjoying the sunset at the time of the incident.
The group from Seoul was composed of 16 South Korean tourists and two travel
agency officials. The 12 survivors returned home Tuesday, while agency officials
remained in Yemen.
Kim Yu-chul, director of the foreign ministry's consular affairs division, said
it will take at least two more days to bring back the bodies, citing
administrative procedures, adding, "We are making efforts to transfer them back
to South Korea as soon as possible."
Meanwhile, a task force sent by South Korea with envoy Kwak Won-ho arrived in
Sanna on Tuesday to visit the Middle Eastern country's foreign ministry and seek
cooperation from the Yemeni government. Kwak said the bodies may be handed over
as early as Wednesday.
The incident has alerted South Koreans to the fact that they are not immune from
terrorism while abroad. Millions of South Koreans travel overseas, and millions
more live in foreign countries.
The latest incident is likely to pressure the South Korean government to take
more prompt and stern measures to keep its nationals away from danger zones
abroad. Officials say imposing a travel ban to Yemen is a sensitive issue, as the
measure would hurt bilateral ties.
The government has designated all regions throughout Yemen as "travel restriction
areas," a non-biding advisory that strongly urges people not to travel there. It
may have to impose a travel ban on the region pending the outcome of the ongoing
investigation.
South Koreans are prohibited from visiting Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia. A
South Korean worker was kidnapped and beheaded by a local terrorist network in
2004 in Iraq. In 2007, 23 South Korean church volunteers were abducted by the
Taliban in Afghanistan. Two were executed before the others were released after
weeks of captivity.
In addition, South Korean ships are common targets for pirates in Somali waters.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, March 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea strongly condemned on Tuesday a recent terrorist bombing in Yemen that killed four South Korean tourists and wounded three others.
Foreign ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said his country has been formally
notified by Yemeni authorities that al-Qaida is responsible for Sunday's attack
in the historic city of Shibam, about 90 km east of the Yemeni capital, Sanna.
The tourists' Yemeni driver was also killed.
"The South Korean government cannot conceal its astonishment at the revelation
that the incident has turned out to be a terrorist attack," Moon said in a
statement.
But he said it remains unclear whether the attack targeted South Koreans or
unspecified foreigners.
"Our government will closely cooperate with the Yemeni government in
investigating and handling the case," Moon said.
An 18-year-old boy was identified as a suspect suicide bomber linked to al-Qaida.
A local news agency, NewsYemen, reported that he posed for a photo with the
tourist group before blowing himself up on Sunday night (Seoul time). The South
Korean tourists were enjoying the sunset at the time of the incident.
The group from Seoul was composed of 16 South Korean tourists and two travel
agency officials. The 12 survivors returned home Tuesday, while agency officials
remained in Yemen.
Kim Yu-chul, director of the foreign ministry's consular affairs division, said
it will take at least two more days to bring back the bodies, citing
administrative procedures, adding, "We are making efforts to transfer them back
to South Korea as soon as possible."
Meanwhile, a task force sent by South Korea with envoy Kwak Won-ho arrived in
Sanna on Tuesday to visit the Middle Eastern country's foreign ministry and seek
cooperation from the Yemeni government. Kwak said the bodies may be handed over
as early as Wednesday.
The incident has alerted South Koreans to the fact that they are not immune from
terrorism while abroad. Millions of South Koreans travel overseas, and millions
more live in foreign countries.
The latest incident is likely to pressure the South Korean government to take
more prompt and stern measures to keep its nationals away from danger zones
abroad. Officials say imposing a travel ban to Yemen is a sensitive issue, as the
measure would hurt bilateral ties.
The government has designated all regions throughout Yemen as "travel restriction
areas," a non-biding advisory that strongly urges people not to travel there. It
may have to impose a travel ban on the region pending the outcome of the ongoing
investigation.
South Koreans are prohibited from visiting Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia. A
South Korean worker was kidnapped and beheaded by a local terrorist network in
2004 in Iraq. In 2007, 23 South Korean church volunteers were abducted by the
Taliban in Afghanistan. Two were executed before the others were released after
weeks of captivity.
In addition, South Korean ships are common targets for pirates in Somali waters.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
