ID :
72758
Wed, 07/29/2009 - 15:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/72758
The shortlink copeid
Pro-unification activists blast S. Korea's 'arbitrary' policy on inter-Korean exchange
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- Activists rallied on Wednesday to protest the South
Korean government's policy on civic exchanges with North Korea, saying its
"arbitrary" approach discriminates against the pro-unification movement.
The Unification Ministry recently barred the South Korean Committee for the June
15 Joint Declaration from meeting its North Korean counterpart this week in
Shenyang, China, citing frozen political relations. The committee is an umbrella
organization of various civic groups aimed at implementing the first inter-Korean
summit accord reached on June 15, 2000.
"We are enraged by the fact that these arbitrary control measures are
concentrated on the June 15 joint declaration committee, which is the largest
gathering of the civic unification movement," Park Deok-shin, co-chairman of the
committee, said at the rally staged in front of the ministry building.
The participants, about a dozen members representing the committee, said the
ministry has been inconsistent in its decisions, noting it approved another aid
organization to meet North Koreans in the Chinese city this weekend.
Kim Dong-han, a professor at Dongguk University and a member of the committee,
accused the Unification Ministry of violating the Inter-Korean Exchange and
Cooperation Law.
"The first reason the ministry cited was the current state of inter-Korean
relations. But the current stalemate has nothing to do with academic exchange.
The ministry itself is a bad influence on inter-Korean relations as it bars
exchanges, going against the spirit of the law," Kim said.
The government banned non-governmental trips to North Korea and other exchanges
after Pyongyang's nuclear test in May. The blanket restrictions have been eased
recently, allowing some aid organizations to visit the impoverished country with
food and medical assistance.
But others, such as exchange programs by the Joint 15 summit declaration
committee, are still generally banned.
A ministry spokesman, Chun Hae-sung, rejected the criticisms, saying the
government intends to continue humanitarian aid regardless of political tension
but maintain restrictions in other areas.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
Korean government's policy on civic exchanges with North Korea, saying its
"arbitrary" approach discriminates against the pro-unification movement.
The Unification Ministry recently barred the South Korean Committee for the June
15 Joint Declaration from meeting its North Korean counterpart this week in
Shenyang, China, citing frozen political relations. The committee is an umbrella
organization of various civic groups aimed at implementing the first inter-Korean
summit accord reached on June 15, 2000.
"We are enraged by the fact that these arbitrary control measures are
concentrated on the June 15 joint declaration committee, which is the largest
gathering of the civic unification movement," Park Deok-shin, co-chairman of the
committee, said at the rally staged in front of the ministry building.
The participants, about a dozen members representing the committee, said the
ministry has been inconsistent in its decisions, noting it approved another aid
organization to meet North Koreans in the Chinese city this weekend.
Kim Dong-han, a professor at Dongguk University and a member of the committee,
accused the Unification Ministry of violating the Inter-Korean Exchange and
Cooperation Law.
"The first reason the ministry cited was the current state of inter-Korean
relations. But the current stalemate has nothing to do with academic exchange.
The ministry itself is a bad influence on inter-Korean relations as it bars
exchanges, going against the spirit of the law," Kim said.
The government banned non-governmental trips to North Korea and other exchanges
after Pyongyang's nuclear test in May. The blanket restrictions have been eased
recently, allowing some aid organizations to visit the impoverished country with
food and medical assistance.
But others, such as exchange programs by the Joint 15 summit declaration
committee, are still generally banned.
A ministry spokesman, Chun Hae-sung, rejected the criticisms, saying the
government intends to continue humanitarian aid regardless of political tension
but maintain restrictions in other areas.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
