� KOREA HERALD :� 22 08 2001 � Extracts. � Investigators to seek arrest warrants for 16 delegates to Pyongyang fete � � Investigation authorities said yesterday they plan to seek arrest warrants as early as today for 16 people who attended the recent Liberation Day celebrations in North Korea, on charges of violating the anti-communist National Security Law. Upon arrival at Gimpo Airport Tuesday, the 16 people, part of a 337-member South Korean delegation to the week-long inter-Korean celebrations, were led away by officials for questioning about their alleged controversial activities in the North. Five of them were handed over to the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the other 11 to the police. "We are now questioning the 16 detainees on whether they violated the National Security Law and will seek arrest warrants for all or some of them tomorrow if their activities in North Korea are found to have violated the security law," said a prosecutor, who asked not to be identified. The National Security Law, which lays down heavy prison sentences for unauthorized contact with North Korea, bans South Koreans from engaging in any pro-North activities. "To determine their illegality, we will closely review their activities in question while in the North," the prosecutor said. The South Korean delegation was allowed to visit Pyongyang for the Liberation Day events only after signing a pledge not to take part in political activities in the North. But more than 100 delegates attended a rally at a new 30-meter high monument in Pyongyang which promotes the North's idea for the national reunification of two Koreas. A sociology professor at a Seoul university also caused controversy when he signed a visitors book at Mankyongdae, the birthplace of the late North Korean leader Kim Il-sung. The memo, by Prof. Kang Jeong-gu of Dongguk University, read, "Let us achieve the historic task of national reunification by upholding the spirit of Mangyongdae." The statement, which could be interpreted as supporting North Korea's state ideology, was widely seen as dangerously pro-Pyongyang. Police yesterday questioned Kang and 10 others over their alleged pro-North Korean activities in Pyongyang. They also confiscated computer files and other materials from the residence and offices of Kang and two other delegates. The NIS also grilled five officials of the Pan-National Alliance for Reunification of the Fatherland, or Beomminnyeon, a tripartite unification organization, who are suspected of more serious charges. The intelligence agency suspects that the Beomminnyeon officials might have contacted their North Korean counterparts prior to their departure to discuss participation in North Korean Youth League meetings, which were unrelated to the Liberation Day festivals. "If they are confirmed to have made prior contact with the North, they may face additional charges," the prosecutor said. ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) By Kang Seok-jae Staff reporter � N.K. officials receiving nuclear safety training in Australia � � Following is the third in a series of interviews The Korea Herald had marking its 48th anniversary. - Ed. By Kim Ji-ho Staff reporter North Korean officials are currently participating in nuclear safeguard training programs in Australia, the Australian ambassador to Seoul said yesterday. "We want to teach North Koreans how to run nuclear safeguard systems," Amb. Colin Heseltine said. Six North Korean nuclear experts have been on a 12-day "Training Course on State Systems of Accounting for and Control of Nuclear Material" in Canberra and Sydney. The program, which is scheduled to end tomorrow, also drew officials from South Korea, China and New Zealand. "One of the top priorities of our government's North Korea policy is based on whether or not the North abides by the terms of international nuclear treaties," Heseltine said in an interview with The Korea Herald. North Korea is under international pressure to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which wants to verify whether or not Pyongyang has complied with previous nuclear safeguard agreements with the U.N. nuclear watchdog. The agreement was one of the key elements of the 1994 Agreed Framework, under which North Korea froze its nuclear program in exchange for the U.S. promise to offer safer nuclear power plants. Australia, which has contributed $9 million to an international consortium constructing two light-water reactors in North Korea, restored official ties with the Pyongyang government in May last year. The two sides severed diplomatic ties in 1975. Last November, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer made his first trip to Pyongyang, which was reciprocated by the visit to Canberra by North Korean Foreign Minister Baek Nam-sun in June this year. "The biggest outcome from their (Canberra) talks was an announcement by Baek that the North will open an embassy in Australia within this year," Heseltine said. Amb. Heseltine, who took his Seoul post Aug. 4, led the Australian side in the negotiation with North Korea on reestablishing official ties. The envoy said the Australian government would be able to set up a resident embassy in Pyongyang by 2003. Heseltine said that although the two countries restored an official relationship, he does not expect the Australian government to drastically increase its economic aid to the impoverished North. "We would not begin any bilateral development assistance or aid programs until we feel there are enough changes in the North's economic systems," Amb. Heseltine said. "Any major step forward in developing our bilateral relations in general will also depend on what happens in North Korea," he added. Since 1994, Australia has provided the North with $24 million worth of economic aid, including food. Heseltine reaffirmed Australia's support for the new missile defense system being pushed by U.S. President George W. Bush. Australia is one of the few nations that openly backs the Missile Defense (MD), which is opposed by Russia, China and North Korea. The missile shield plan will never undermine regional stability, Heseltine said. "The most difficult issue lies in the states in concern that develop missiles capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction, not a defense system against them," he said. ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) � � Unification minister apologizes for Liberation Day controversy � � Unification Minister Lim Dong-won yesterday apologized for the controversies caused by the activities of some South Korean delegates during the recent joint liberation celebrations in North Korea. "I am sorry for causing the people and the President all this trouble," Lim said in a meeting with ruling party members. The minister expressed regret that some of about 300 civic, religious and labor activists engaged in politically sensitive activities in the North, ignoring their previous agreement with the government. During a weeklong Liberation Day celebration in North Korea, more than 100 South Koreans participated in ceremonies held at a monument symbolizing the North's unification policy. Some also left messages that can be interpreted as support to Pyongyang's political and unification ideology. Sixteen of the South Korean visitors are under the custody of law-enforcement authorities. "We also expressed regret to North Korea for abetting such a controversy," he said. The minister, however, denied allegations that his ministry gave the go-ahead for the delegation's trip in defiance of opposition from security authorities. The ruling Millennium Democratic Party members said that the government should be held responsible for the incident. But they also noted that a flurry of criticism by the opposition and other conservative forces of the delegation's activities should not hinder inter-Korean civilian-level exchanges. The opposition Grand National Party (GNP) stepped up its calls for Lim to be replaced as well as a review on President Kim Dae-jung's policy of engaging North Korea. "The government's North Korea policy has only escalated conflicts between the conservatives and progressives in this country," GNP floor leader Lee Jae-oh said. ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) By Kim Ji-ho Staff reporter � � � _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
