Politic-Economic-Society-Tech

Seoul, Washington set to discuss defector's trip 

The South Korean and U.S. governments will likely begin consultation soon on the proposed visit to the United States by Hwang Jang-yop, the top-ranking North Korean defector, Seoul officials said yesterday. 
The consultation will focus on the safety of the former North Korean Workers' Party secretary in the United States, according to the officials. 

"Our unwavering stance is that we can allow Hwang's trip only after his security is guaranteed to an extent that we deem acceptable," a senior government official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "If discussions begin with Washington, we will deliver this position." 

Observers said that the issue of Hwang's possible visit would cause diplomatic friction between Washington and Seoul, the latter of which has remained reluctant to let the ideologue-turned-critic of the Pyongyang regime testify in the United States. 

Hwang, who sought political asylum in the South in 1997, was invited by U.S. Congress members and civilian experts earlier this week. 

Washington has not yet clarified its position on the invitation, other than to say that it would "coordinate security (issues) with relevant law enforcement agencies." 

But diplomatic watchers predicted that the Republican-led U.S. administration would support Hwang's trip, which was proposed by leading Republicans, including Senator Jesse Helms and Henry Hyde, chairman of the House Committee on International Relations. 

Some Republicans reportedly expressed regret over the Seoul government's stance, saying they were "shocked" and that the Congress may take countermeasures, including the adoption of a protest statement. 

"The South Korean government is trying to silence Hwang to assist the North, which doesn't want to reveal its internal problems," Chuck Downs, who delivered the Congressmen's messages to Hwang, told the Chosun Ilbo newspaper. 

The opposition Grand National Party (GNP) also stepped up its criticism of the government, calling on Seoul to permit Hwang to attend Congress meetings and a seminar scheduled for July 20 as proposed. 

Seoul officials, however, claimed that the prominent defector's U.S. visit should be dealt with "cautiously" and that the visit cannot be allowed simply because of requests from several legislators. 

They said that Washington is also reluctant to arrange meetings between Seoul officials and ranking North Korean defectors in the United States, citing the case of Chang Sung-gil, former North Korean Ambassador to Egypt who took asylum in Washington in 1997. 

Stressing that the U.S. government refused to allow their interview with Chang at the time, the officials claimed that such protections of political refugees is standard international practice. 

GNP members, however, criticized the government's "excessive" protection of Hwang as an attempt to "gag" the critic, whose comments could jeopardize inter-Korean relations. 

(jihoho@koreaherald.co.kr) 


By Kim Ji-ho Staff reporter 

source: koreaherald.com, July 7, 2001