DATE=6/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251083
TITLE=NORTH KOREA / TOURIST RELEASE (L-O)
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=HONG KONG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NORTH KOREA HAS RELEASED A SOUTH KOREAN TOURIST (FRIDAY)
AFTER HOLDING HER FOR SIX DAYS ON SUSPICIONS THAT SHE WAS A SPY.
AS AMY BICKERS REPORTS FROM THE V-O-A ASIA NEWS CENTER, THIS IS
THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF UPS AND DOWNS THIS MONTH IN RELATIONS
BETWEEN THE TWO KOREAS.
TEXT: MIN YOUNG-MI FROM SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, HAS BEEN RELEASED BY
NORTH KOREAN AUTHORITIES WHO DETAINED HER SUNDAY. SHE HAD ENTERED
NORTH KOREA LAST SATURDAY AS A TOURIST TO A SCENIC MOUNTAIN.
NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS SAID THE WOMAN TRIED TO ENTICE THE TOUR
GUIDE TO DEFECT AND ACCUSED HER OF SPYING.
THE MOTHER OF TWO WAS HANDED OVER TO OFFICIALS OF THE HYUNDAI
(PRONO: HEE-YOON-DAY) GROUP WHICH SPONSORED THE TOUR, AND SHE WAS
TAKEN BACK TO SOUTH KOREA BY BOAT.
A HYUNDAI SPOKESMAN SAID THE WOMAN APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD HEALTH.
NORTH KOREA'S DETENTION OF THE WOMAN THREATENED TO HALT A TOURISM
PROJECT BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS AS PART OF THE SOUTH'S SO-CALLED
SUNSHINE POLICY OF ENGAGING THE NORTH. THE EXCHANGES BRING
THOUSANDS OF SOUTH KOREANS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
BADLY-NEEDED FOREIGN CURRENCY TO THE CASH-STRAPPED NORTH.
THE RELEASE COMES A DAY BEFORE HIGH LEVEL NORTH-SOUTH TALKS
RESUME IN BEIJING AND MORE THAN A WEEK AFTER THE TWO SIDES
ENGAGED IN A NAVAL BATTLE IN DISPUTED YELLOW SEA WATERS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/AB/JO
25-Jun-99 7:03 AM EDT (1103 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
