SOUTH KOREA: Anti-North Korea protesters hold a rally to denounce the North-South summit

Record ID: 215755

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: Anti-North Korea protesters hold a rally to denounce the North-South summit
  • Date: 8th August 2007
  • Summary: (W2) BUNDANG, SOUTH KOREA (AUGUST 8, 2007) (REUTERS) FAMILIES OF HOSTAGES WALKING OUT OF CHURCH (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SEO JEONG-BAE, FATHER OF TWO HOSTAGES, SAYING: "The summit can be held anytime, but the lives of the remaining 21 hostages are so precious. I am disappointed… I'm crushed." VARIOUS OF FAMILIES IN OFFICE WIDE OF FAMILIES GATHERED IN OFFICE
  • Embargoed: 23rd August 2007 13:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVAEOFIAI9AKL4J5LDCOW66A777B
  • Story Text: Anti-North Korea protesters held a rally on Wednesday (August 8) to denounce the second North-South summit to be held on August 28-30.
    North and South Korea confirmed that leaders of the two countries would hold a summit on August 28-30 in the North Korean capital Pyongyang.
    Small group of anti-North Korea protesters gathered near South Korean presidential palace to hold a rally against the summit between the two Korea.
    "We strongly denounce that North and South Korean leaders, Kim Jong-il and Roh Moo-hyun, working together to recreate the left-wing government," said Park Chan-sung, president of the Citizens' Coalition to Stop Nuclear Development of North Korea.
    South Korean government held a news conference to announce the two Korea will hold a summit and, in a simultaneous announcement in North Korea, the North Korean KCNA news agency said both sides will hold a preparatory meeting in Kaesong, where is a South Korean-funded industrial estate, at an early date.
    The two sides will hold preparatory talks this month in Kaesong, a South Korean-funded industrial estate just inside the North and close to the heavily-defended buffer zone that has divided the two Koreas for more than 50 years.
    Meanwhile, the families of the hostages held captive by the Taliban in Afghanistan expressed their disappointment against the government announcing the summit while the hostage situation is still at standoff.
    "The summit can be held anytime, but the lives of the remaining 21 hostages are so precious. I am disappointed… I'm crushed," said Shim Seong-bae, father of the two hostages.
    The Taliban have killed two of the hostages and have repeatedly threatened to kill the remaining 18 women and three men unless the Afghan government agrees to free jailed rebels.
    Afghanistan has refused to release Taliban prisoners, saying that would encourage a kidnapping "industry".
    The Taliban said on Monday (August 7) they were still waiting for the Koreans to reply to their conditions over a venue. A U.N. spokesman said the international body had not received any request from the Taliban to supervise or guarantee talks.
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