 |
|
|
|
|
|
North Korea must cooperate
|
|
|
Fri, Jul 18, 2008
The Korea Herald, ANN
|
|
|
|
|
>The briefing by the National Institute of Scientific Investigation Wednesday (July 16) on the death of Park Wang-ja, the South Korean tourist who was killed inside the restricted military zone on a beach at Mount Geumgang, basically said that they could not conclusively determine the circumstances of her death without an onsite inspection.
The autopsy report revealed that Park died from two gun shot wounds, but other details of her death remain unknown. An onsite inspection may yield more answers, according to the National Institute of Scientific Investigation.
Hyundai-Asan CEO Yoon Man-joon, who briefed reporters earlier in the day after returning from a four-day trip to the North Korean resort, did little more than relay North Korea's version of the events that led to the death of Park. The North Koreans gave Yoon a different account from their initial explanation, confirming suspicions that they are not being open with the facts surrounding Park's shooting.
The North Koreans now claim that one warning shot was fired, followed by three shots aimed at Park. Previously, they said one warning shot and two live aimed were fired. The site of the death is now said to be 300 metres from the fence that marks the restricted military zone, a change from the distance of 200 metres initially given. Park is now said to have left the Mt Geumgang Beach Hotel at 4:18am, as opposed to the 4:31am account given earlier - the closed circuit TV at the hotel had been mistakenly set 13 minutes fast. North Korea says the high-tech CCTV installed along the North Korean side of the fence was not in operation on the day of the shooting.
With South Korean officials unable to cross the border since the recent freeze in inter-Korean relations, Yoon's visit was an invaluable opportunity to gather facts on the ground. It is a shirking of Hyundai-Asan's responsibility, as the operator of the tourist resort, that Yoon did not do more to actively collect facts and information. His explanation that he chose not to look into the details because he did not want to give North Koreans the impression that he was conducting an onsite inspection - Yoon said that, at that point, he had anticipated a joint South-North investigation - does not excuse the company from not assuming a more proactive role in the matter.
North Korea has thus far refused Seoul's calls for a joint investigation. This is a clear breach of the border passage rule signed in 2004, which calls for the establishment of an inter-Korean team in emergencies involving both Koreas.
The Ministry of Unification has threatened to bring the matter to international attention, potentially harming North Korea's image at a time when it is attempting to rejoin the international community. The government and Hyundai-Asan should continue to press North Korea to open up a joint inquiry. North Korea should be put on notice that until the circumstances surrounding Park's death become known and the safety of tourists there can be guaranteed, there can be no more tours to Mount Geumgang.
|
|
| READERS' POSTINGS |
| |
|
STORY INDEX
|
|
|
|
|
|
