North Korean reporters clash with protesters in South's Taegu over human rights

BBC Monitoring ^ | August 24 2003 | Yonhap news agency

[knighthawk]

Taegu, 24 August: North Korean reporters clashed Sunday [24 August] with a group of protesters demanding Pyongyang improve its human rights record in front of the Universiade Media Centre (UMC) in Taegu.

The reporters were returning to the UMC after covering North Korean athletes competing in the archery and diving events of the Taegu Summer Universiade when scores of ralliers raised placards saying, "Bring Down (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-il and Save North Korean Residents", witnesses said.

The North Korean reporters initially asked the demonstrators to get rid of the placards before moving inside the UMC.

Minutes later, however, several of the journalists re-emerged from the centre and struggled with the protesters to try to remove the placards, according to the witnesses.

Norbert Vollertsen, a German doctor noted for his efforts to bring humanitarian aid to the North, was pushed to the ground during the fracas, a witness said.

Shin Hye-sik, president of Internet newspaper "independent.co.kr" who took part in the rally, said, "Vollertsen, who was taking part in the rally with damaged feet, collapsed when a North Korean reporter hit him."

The German human rights activist was taken to a nearby hospital, Shin said.

Shin, the head of the conservative Internet newspaper, denounced the North Korean reporters over the incident, saying they "committed an act of terrorism against a peaceful demonstration".

Shin threatened to organize a large-scale rally against North Korea and the South Korean government if Seoul fails to apologize for the incident and present measures to prevent a recurrence.

During the incident, a North Korean reporter received an injured finger and had his shirt ripped, witnesses said.

"They provoked the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by defaming our general (Kim Jong-il) in public," a North Korean reporter said, adding, "We will soon hold a press conference on the incident."

The ralliers also called on South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun to apologize for expressing regret over a violent anti-Pyongyang demonstration in Seoul last week. The North threatened to boycott the Universiade just days before the opening ceremony until President Roh issued the statement of regret.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[lowbridge]

The North Korean reporters initially asked the demonstrators to get rid of the placards before moving inside the UMC.

Minutes later, however, several of the journalists re-emerged from the centre and struggled with the protesters to try to remove the placards, according to the witnesses.

Shin Hye-sik, president of Internet newspaper "independent.co.kr" who took part in the rally, said, "Vollertsen, who was taking part in the rally with damaged feet, collapsed when a North Korean reporter hit him."

"They provoked the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by defaming our general (Kim Jong-il) in public," a North Korean reporter said

There's a job waiting for these fellas right over at the New York Times.

....and at the Los Angeles Times, and CNN, and the Washington Post, etc, etc.