[USFK Forums] S. Korean Press Walk Out of Family Reunion [Chosun & Yonhap]

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Thursday, March 23, 2006

S.Korean Press Walk Out of Family Reunions

The Chosun Ilbo: Updated Mar.23,2006 19:30 KST

The South Korean press corps on Thursday decided to leave North Korea in protest at authorities’ interference with their coverage of an ongoing reunion event of families divided between North and South. Pyongyang on Tuesday took umbrage at reports in the South Korean press that accurately described some of those from the North Korean side as “abducted” by North Korea.

Seoul and the press pool said Pyongyang on Tuesday threatened to expel reporters who used the offensive terminology. The North gave an unnamed reporter “30 minutes” to leave or face being dealt with “according to North Korean law.” It also threatened South Korean authorities, saying it would end the reunion prematurely if the reporter stayed. North Korean security forces barged into the press room and confiscated tapes recorded by the SBS TV network and others. However, following behind-the-scenes negotiations, it returned them the next day.

The wrangling delayed the return of the first group of South Korean family members, most of whom are in their 80s or 90s, some nine hours after their reunions ended. They were to leave Mt.Kumgang at 1 p.m. on Wednesday after saying goodbye to their North Korean families in the morning. As a result, the buses carrying the 149, including 50 who accompanied their elderly relatives, did not leave until after 10 p.m.

The South Korean press corps in a statement on Thursday said, “The North has obstructed our reporting and failed to respond to our demand for free press activity, let alone apologized. We interpret that to mean the North will continue to curb South Korean press activities during the second part starting on Thursday, and have decided to leave.”

Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok expressed deep regret that North Korea obstructed South Korean press activities and prevented the first group of South Korean families from coming back home on time. He said he protested to Pyongyang “and stressed that the attitude the North has shown does not help improve inter-Korean relations and is undesirable from the humanitarian perspective.” He added he urged the North to remedy the situation.

url: http://english.chosun.com/w21data/ht...603230020.html

[PHOTO NEWS] Korean reporters leaves N. Korea in protest at threats [Yonhap]

[PHOTO: Unloadable]

S. Korean reporters leave N. Korea in protest at threats
March 23, MOUNT GEUMGANG, North Korea -- A member of the South Korean joint press corps, dispatched to cover an ongoing round of inter-Korean family reunions at North Korea's Mount Geumgang, packs his belongings to return home on March 23 after the North threatened to take punitive measures against one of its members. The 21 journalists departed from the site for the reunions of separated families at 8:00 p.m to return to Seoul. (Yonhap)