DATE=1/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244403
TITLE=KOREA DEFECTORS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=EUNICE YOON
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NORTH KOREA HAS ACCUSED SOUTH KOREA OF KIDNAPPING ONE OF
ITS DIPLOMATS IN GERMANY. BUT AS EUNICE YOON REPORTS FROM SEOUL,
SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS CALL THE ACCUSATION GROUNDLESS.
TEXT: NORTH KOREA ALLEGED WEDNESDAY SOUTH KOREAN INTELLIGENCE
AGENTS KIDNAPPED ONE OF ITS DIPLOMATS IN GERMANY. NORTH KOREA'S
STATE-RUN NEWS AGENCY REPORTED SOUTH KOREAN SPIES ABDUCTED KIM
KYONG-PIL AND HIS WIFE LAST WEEK IN FRONT OF A HOTEL IN BERLIN.
THE AGENCY SAID THE SOUTH LATER HANDED OVER THE PAIR TO THE
UNITED STATES TO AVOID RESPONSIBILITY.
SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE DISMISSED THE ALLEGATIONS
AS "TYPICAL NORTH KOREAN PROPAGANDA." THE SOUTH'S SPY AGENCY
DENIES IT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE INCIDENT. IT SAYS MR.
KIM'S AND HIS WIFE'S ACTIONS WERE VOLUNTARY AND THAT THEY
DEFECTED WHILE ON A TRIP TO FRANKFURT.
NORTH KOREA HAS SINCE DEMANDED THE IMMEDIATE RETURN OF THE
DIPLOMAT AND HIS WIFE. IT SAID THE INCIDENT MAY THREATEN PEACE
ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA.
MR. KIM WAS SENT TO GERMANY THREE YEARS AGO, AS AN ECONOMIC
SECRETARY. SOUTH KOREAN NEWS MEDIA REPORT HE DEFECTED AFTER
BEING REPRIMANDED FOR NOT BRINGING ENOUGH FOREIGN CURRENCY INTO
HIS COUNTRY. MR. KIM AND HIS WIFE ARE REPORTEDLY NOW SEEKING
ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)
NEB/EY/FC/JO
20-Jan-99 5:31 AM EST (1031 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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