Oct. 24, 2008
Yonhap News


North Korean newspaper argues that the issue of the wartime abduction is an attempt by the South to start a “confrontation”

The Korean Central News Agency reported that Rodong Sinmun denounced a researcher’s claim that North Korea systematically abducted South Korean civilians to meet its military needs. Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, argues that the researcher aims to “completely stop the implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration and the October 4 Declaration.

In an editorial titled “outrageous fabrication of South Korean madmen for confrontation,” Rodong Sinmun argues that there were no abductions of civilians by North Korea and that such a thing was never heard of. This is meant to refute the argument made by Heo Man-ho, professor of Political Science at Kyungpook National University, at a symposium hosted by the Korea War Abductees Research Institute. Professor Heo stated that the abductions during the Korean War were part of North Korea’s war policy, and that North Korea therefore systematically abducted South Korean civilians.

By connecting Professor Heo’s statement with ROK President Lee’s North Korean policy, Rodong Sinmun easily leapt to the conclusion that Professor Heo’s statement was intended to drive the weak relations of North and South Korea to the breaking point, create a feeling of hostility toward North Korea in South Korean society, cause distrust between the two peoples, and thereby completely stop the implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration and the October 4 Declaration.

In regard to President Lee’s plan to edit school textbooks, which he says are “left-leaning,” the North Korean media argue that the Lee Administration aims to “intensify the confrontation between North and South Korea.” They also made an issue of every step and measure related to North Korea taken by the current ROK government, saying that it is part of the government’s attempt to start a confrontation with North Korea.

- Pak Cheol Chun