ID :
53543
Thu, 04/02/2009 - 22:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/53543
The shortlink copeid
N. Korea says detained S. Korean worker in good health
SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has notified Seoul that a South Korean worker detained for allegedly denouncing its regime is in good health but still refused access to him for a fourth day, an official said Thursday.
The Hyundai Asan Corp. worker, identified only by his family name Yu, was
detained at a joint industrial complex in the North Korean border town of Kaesong
on Monday for allegedly criticizing the North's political system and urging a
North Korean female employee to defect.
Hyundai Asan is a unit of South Korea's Hyundai Group, which has developed
various joint economic ventures in North Korea.
Several workers and tourists have been detained and investigated in past years
for violating North Korean law, but the latest case raises concern as it comes
amid frosty political relations ahead of the North's planned rocket launch that
may occur as early as Saturday.
North Korea continued to refuse access to the detained worker, an unmarried
engineer in his 40s, but said he was in good health and being questioned in a
safe environment, said Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo.
"Our government is continuing to urge North Korea to allow access to him.
Ensuring basic rights during an investigation is part of an inter-Korean
agreement," Lee told reporters.
Lee was referring to an accord the Koreas reached on joint industrial and tourism
ventures in Kaesong and the North's scenic Mount Kumgang. The accord stipulates
that the safety of South Korean workers and tourists who violate North Korean law
must be ensured during an investigation and, if the violations are proven, are
fined or expelled. North Korea cannot try them in its territory.
North Korea is also preparing to indict two U.S. journalists being held on
charges of illegal entry and "hostile acts."
Analysts in Seoul say the release of the U.S. reporters and the South Korean is
not likely to occur before the North launches what it claims is a communications
satellite between the April 4-8 period.
The Hyundai Asan Corp. worker, identified only by his family name Yu, was
detained at a joint industrial complex in the North Korean border town of Kaesong
on Monday for allegedly criticizing the North's political system and urging a
North Korean female employee to defect.
Hyundai Asan is a unit of South Korea's Hyundai Group, which has developed
various joint economic ventures in North Korea.
Several workers and tourists have been detained and investigated in past years
for violating North Korean law, but the latest case raises concern as it comes
amid frosty political relations ahead of the North's planned rocket launch that
may occur as early as Saturday.
North Korea continued to refuse access to the detained worker, an unmarried
engineer in his 40s, but said he was in good health and being questioned in a
safe environment, said Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo.
"Our government is continuing to urge North Korea to allow access to him.
Ensuring basic rights during an investigation is part of an inter-Korean
agreement," Lee told reporters.
Lee was referring to an accord the Koreas reached on joint industrial and tourism
ventures in Kaesong and the North's scenic Mount Kumgang. The accord stipulates
that the safety of South Korean workers and tourists who violate North Korean law
must be ensured during an investigation and, if the violations are proven, are
fined or expelled. North Korea cannot try them in its territory.
North Korea is also preparing to indict two U.S. journalists being held on
charges of illegal entry and "hostile acts."
Analysts in Seoul say the release of the U.S. reporters and the South Korean is
not likely to occur before the North launches what it claims is a communications
satellite between the April 4-8 period.
