March 25
NORTH KOREA:
S. Korean Lawmaker Shows Alleged North Korean Execution Footage
A South Korean lawmaker has shown a video allegedly depicting public
executions taking place in North Korea. Human rights groups say the South
Korean government is not giving the video the recognition it deserves, but
officials are defending their policies toward Pyongyang.
In a meeting room at South Korea's National Assembly, viewers watched a
nightmarish scenario unfold on video.
A distant, grainy, but nonetheless visible image shows a man being tied to
a post after a brief trial. The voice of a military official can be heard
ordering the men to take aim and fire.
Conservative lawmaker Kim Moon-soo played the videotape of the execution,
which a human rights group in Seoul says was secretly filmed in North
Korea.
The video shows three separate executions and was played on Japanese
television last week. So far, its authenticity has not been confirmed.
Park Kwang-Il is a North Korean defector who served as a consultant to the
Japanese broadcaster about details in the video. He says he believes it
was not staged.
Mr. Park says he saw many public executions in North Korea. He admits that
some of those executed might have been actual criminals, but says most
public executions are meant to discourage any political dissent.
Mr. Park expressed outrage that the Korean Broadcasting System, the
national television network, chose not to air the footage when it was
offered to network executives.
He accuses South Korean officials of hiding behind the excuse that the
video has not been confirmed.
South Korea's government pursues a policy of engagement with North Korea,
under which it avoids provocative actions and rhetoric whenever possible.
Huh Gang-Il, from South Korea's Foreign Ministry, was the only official
from the government at Friday's discussion. He defended Seoul's approach
toward the North.
Mr. Huh says attempts by previous governments to confront North Korea head
on about human rights abuses have backfired because Pyongyang treated it
as an attack, and cut off contact with the South. He says because the
inter-Korean relationship is so complex, Seoul can accomplish more good
through quiet cooperation than by confrontation on the world stage.
The government is expected to stick with that approach next month, when it
is widely expected to abstain from voting on a U.N. resolution calling for
North Korea to improve its human-rights situation.
(source: Voice of America News)
