SOUTH KOREA: South Koreans denounce North Korea's nuclear test

Record ID: 213921

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: South Koreans denounce North Korea's nuclear test
  • Date: 1st March 2013
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (MARCH 1, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WAR VETERANS AT RALLY WAVING SOUTH KOREAN NATIONAL FLAGS STAGE WITH BANNER IN KOREAN READING: "NORTH KOREA WILL BE THE WORST VICTIM TO ITS NUCLEAR TEST" (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PROTEST LEADER BONG TAE-HONG SAYING: "South Korean President Park Geun-hye said North Korea would be the biggest victim to its nuclear test. I hope North Korea abolishes its nuclear ambitions and establishes a regime open to the international community for living together well." VARIOUS OF TAEKWONDO DEMONSTRATION VARIOUS OF TAEKWONDO FIGHTERS KICKING BOARDS READING: "MISSILE" IN KOREAN PEOPLE CHEERING VARIOUS OF TAEKWONDO FIGHTERS PUNCHING THROUGH WOODEN BOARDS VARIOUS OF CHILDREN WAVING NATIONAL FLAGS AND SINGING ON STAGE
  • Embargoed: 16th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Korea, Republic of
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4Y5B146A688U9UBTJACZSAN0I
  • Story Text: Conservative South Korean activists gathered in Seoul on Friday (March 1) to denounce North Korea's nuclear test.
    On February 12, North Korea said it had successfully tested a nuclear device, although U.S. and allied intelligence have found no traces of telltale nuclear-related particles so far.
    A few hundred protesters rallied in downtown Seoul and held cultural and sporting events, which criticized North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Taekwondo fighters from South Korea's traditional martial arts smashed wooden boards reading "missile" in Korean.

    "South Korean President Park Geun-hye said North Korea would be the biggest victim to its nuclear test. I hope North Korea abolishes its nuclear ambitions and establishes a regime open to the international community for living together well," said protest leader Bong Tae-hong.
    Newly elected president Park has urged the North to make the right choice in its relationship with the South, saying provocations would meet a stronger counter-response.
    Speaking at a ceremony on Friday to mark the anniversary of Independence Movement Day from Japanese rule, Park said a right choice by the North would meet a more "flexible engagement".
    North Korea is facing further United Nations sanctions for its underground nuclear test explosion two weeks ago, its biggest and most powerful to date which drew warnings from Washington and international condemnation.
    Pyongyang said the aim of the test was to bolster its defences given moves by the United States which has led a push to impose more sanctions on the North.
    North Korea has already told key ally China that it is prepared to stage one or two more tests this year to force the U.S. into diplomatic talks, a source with direct knowledge of the message told Reuters in February.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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