DATE=6/22/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250947
TITLE=NORTH KOREA / TOURIST (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JENNIFER VEALE
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  NORTH KOREA HAS REJECTED (TUESDAY) DEMANDS BY SOUTH KOREA
TO  RELEASE A SOUTH KOREAN WOMAN DETAINED THIS WEEK.  THE NORTH  
SAYS THE WOMAN IS A SPY AND HAS BEEN SENT BY SEOUL TO TRY TO COAX
NORTH KOREANS TO DEFECT.   JENNIFER VEALE  REPORTS FROM SEOUL ON 
THE LATEST  DISPUTE BETWEEN THE KOREAS.

TEXT:  NORTH KOREA'S OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCY SAYS THE KOREAN ASIA 
PACIFIC  PEACE COMMITTEE HAS ACCUSED MIN YOUNG-MI OF TRYING TO 
TEMPT  DEFECTIONS BY SAYING NORTH KOREAN DEFECTORS LIVED WELL IN 
THE SOUTH.

THE 38 YEAR OLD HOUSEWIFE WAS DETAINED SUNDAY WHILE  ON A THREE 
DAY TOUR OF THE FAMOUS KUNGKANG MOUNTAINS -- NOW OPEN TO SOUTH  
KOREAN TOURISTS.

THE NORTH'S NEWS BROADCAST  SAID THE WOMEN HAD BEEN SENT BY THE  
SOUTH IN A  PLOT TO THWART A FLEDGLING TOURISM PROJECT BETWEEN 
THE NORTH AND  SOUTH KOREAN CONGLOMERATE, THE GIANT HYUNDAI 
GROUP.

SOUTH KOREA'S UNIFICATION MINISTRY REJECTED THE ALLEGATIONS, 
CALLING THE  INCIDENT A MISUNDERSTANDING. HYUNDAI OFFICIALS, WHO 
MET WITH THE WOMEN SAID  SHE ALSO DENIED DOING ANYTHING WRONG.

SOUTH KOREA ANNOUNCED IT WAS SUSPENDING  HYUNDAI TOURS TO THE 
NORTH UNTIL THE WOMAN IS SAFELY RETURNED. 

MORE THAN 80-THOUSAND SOUTH KOREANS VISITED THE NORTH THIS YEAR 
AS A RESULT OF  PRESIDENT KIM DAE JUNG'S SUNSHINE POLICY OF 
ENGAGING THE NORTH BOTH CULTURALLY AND ECONOMICALLY.  THE PROGRAM
HAS BROUGHT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN BADLY NEEDED FOREIGN CURRENCY 
TO NORTH KOREA.  

BUT RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO KOREAS BECAME SEVERELY STRAINED 
AFTER LAST  WEEK'S NAVAL CLASH IN THE YELLOW SEA OVER A BORDER 
DISPUTE.  

GENERALS FROM THE U-S LED U-N COMMAND AND NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS 
MET FOR TWO HOURS IN PANMUNJOM ON TUESDAY TO MINIMIZE THE FALLOUT
FROM THE CLASH AND DISCUSS WAYS OF REDUCING TENSIONS  IN THE 
YELLOW SEA IN THE FUTURE.   DURING THE MEETING THE UNITED STATES 
PROPOSED SHIPS FROM THE TWO KOREAS HONOR THE U-N IMPOSED SEA 
BORDER.  NORTH KOREA DOES  NOT  RECOGNIZE THE MARITIME BOUNDARY 
SET BY THE UNITED NATIONS AFTER THE KOREAN WAR IN 1953. (SIGNED)

NEB/JV/GC/JO/PLM

 

22-Jun-99 6:34 AM EDT (1034 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.