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NK Retracts Threat to Withdraw

2003-08-26

DAEGU - Mayor Cho Hae-nyoung, concurrently president of the 2003 Universiade organizing committee, on Monday (Aug. 25) expressed regret over a clash between North Korean reporters and South Korean anti-communist activists on Sunday. Responding to the mayor's comments, the North withdrew its threat to pull out of the sports event.

"It is regrettable that such an unexpected incident took place during the Universiade where university students are aiming to become one through athletic and cultural exchanges, overcoming differences of politics, ideology, race and nationality," Cho said during a media conference held at the Universiade Media Center (UMC) in the morning.

Cho said while measures will be taken to ensure the safety of the North Korean delegation, there would be no investigations over the lapse in security at the Universiade Media Center in Daegu. "We are not considering punishment for security officials," Cho said.

Police and security personnel have been criticized for allowing a scuffle to develop outside the UMC Sunday between a group of South Korean protesters and North Korean reporters.

Cho also said that it was up to the local authorities to decide whether to prosecute the protesters, highlighting the fact that such a protest is an aspect of a democratic system in which freedom of speech and ideology is guaranteed.

The mayor added that he hoped further demonstrations could be avoided so as not to infringe upon the spirit of amateur athletic competition.

In a hurriedly arranged media conference just after the clash Sunday at the UMC, Jon Guk-man, North Korea's chief delegate to the Daegu Summer Universiade, said, "We will be obliged to reconsider our participation in the Daegu Summer Universiade if rallies against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea continue," demanding the Seoul government punish the protesters.

The reporters involved in the fracas were returning to the UMC after covering North Korean athletes competing in the archery and diving events of the world's biggest sporting event for university students when scores of protesters raised placards saying, "Down With Kim Jong-il (North Korea's leader) and Save North Korean People."

Source : www.korea.net