SOUTH KOREA: North Korean defectors hold an anti-Pyongyang rally /U.S. Ambassador to South Korea urges China to make more effort in dealing with North

Record ID: 212646

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: North Korean defectors hold an anti-Pyongyang rally /U.S. Ambassador to South Korea urges China to make more effort in dealing with North
  • Date: 16th December 2010
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (DECEMBER 15, 2010) (REUTERS) NORTH KOREAN DEFECTORS HOLDING ANTI-NORTH KOREA BANNER VARIOUS OF NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR CUTTING NORTH KOREA'S NATIONAL FLAG WITH CUTTER KNIFE VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS STAMPING ON BOX WRITTEN "SUNSHINE POLICY" (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR AND SECRETARY GENERAL OF NORTH KOREA FREEDOM FEDERATION, CHOI CHUL-WOONG, SAYING: "North Korean defectors like us know better than anyone in the world how precious freedom is. We got our freedom back risking our lives and we're willing to give our lives to guard the freedom." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING WHILE HOLDING ANTI-NORTH KOREA PLACARDS VIEW OF PROTEST U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SEOUL KATHLEEN STEPHENS WALKING UP TO PODIUM AMBASSADOR STEPHENS SPEAKING AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SEOUL KATHLEEN STEPHENS SAYING: "Pyongyang should not be mistaken the United States will never waver in our commitment to the Republic of Korea. We will never waver. We will not waver." VARIOUS OF AMCHAM MEMBERS STEPHENS SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SEOUL KATHLEEN STEPHENS SAYING: "It is critically important that China continues to playing a strong role and making it clear to North Korea that there are consequences for its actions. We hope that China will work with us to send a clear and unmistakable message to North Korea that they have to demonstrate a seriousness of purpose and end their provocative actions." AMCHAN MEETING IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 31st December 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Korea, Republic of
  • Country: South Korea
  • Reuters ID: LVABU19HH68J1UE807PRZNB1X937
  • Story Text: More than a hundred North Korean defectors rallied on Wednesday (December 15) against the North's series of provocations as Pyongyang looked to be readying for a possible third nuclear test.
    The protesters gathered in downtown Seoul and slashed North Korea's national flag and trampled over a box written "Sunshine policy" -- a pro-North Korea policy taken during previous governments.
    They urged the government to take strong measures against the North's provocative actions and said they were willing to fight for for freedom.
    "North Korean defectors like us know better than anyone in the world how precious freedom is. We got our freedom back risking our lives and we're willing to give our lives to guard the freedom," said Choi Chul-woong, a North Korean defector who is a head of North Korea Freedom Federation.
    U.S. and South Korean intelligence have been watching the North's nuclear sites for any activity which analysts say could be part of efforts to gain leverage in the international talks it is seeking and secure aid to prop up a destitute economy.
    In Seoul, U.S. Ambassador to Seoul, Kathleen Stephens, reaffirmed the country's commitment to South Korea.
    "Pyongyang should not be mistaken the United States will never waver in our commitment to the Republic of Korea. We will never waver. We will not waver," said Stephens at an American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) meeting in the South Korean capital.
    Stephens urged China to play a critical role in dealing with North Korea.
    "It is critically important that China continues to playing a strong role and making it clear to North Korea that there are consequences for its actions. We hope that China will work with us to send a clear and unmistakable message to North Korea that they have to demonstrate a seriousness of purpose and end their provocative actions," said Stephens.
    Deputy U.S. Secretary of State James Steinberg is in Beijing to consult with the Chinese on North Korea and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a frequent visitor to Pyongyang as an unofficial envoy, is on his way to the North.
    North Korea showed a uranium enrichment facility, which could give it a second route to make nuclear bombs, at the Yongbyon site to a U.S. expert in November and later announced it was operating such a programme under a "peaceful" energy project.
    South Korea's foreign minister said on Tuesday he suspected there were more facilities in addition to Yongbyon where the North was enriching uranium. A media report said Pyongyang had three to four such plants.
    North Korea conducted nuclear tests at the Punggye site in 2006 and 2009, when detonations in tunnels were detected by U.S. and South Korean monitoring.
    The U.N. Security Council condemned last year's test and imposed tough sanctions aimed at banning North Korea's arms trade and cutting off funding for such programmes.
    Analysts say ailing leader Kim Jong-il's plan to transfer power to his son Jong-un is also creating domestic political pressure as resorts to military grandstanding to try to build legitimacy for the untested and previously unknown successor.
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