(IPI/IFEX) – In a 28 June 2000 letter to Kim Jong Il, president of the standing committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly, IPI condemned the refusal by North Korean authorities to allow “Chosun Ilbo” journalist Kim In-gu to enter North Korea. According to IPI’s sources, Kim In-gu had obtained a permit to be part of […]
(IPI/IFEX) – In a 28 June 2000 letter to Kim Jong Il, president of the standing committee of the
Supreme People’s Assembly, IPI condemned the refusal by North Korean authorities to allow “Chosun Ilbo” journalist Kim In-gu to enter North Korea.
According to IPI’s sources, Kim In-gu had obtained a permit to be part of the press pool set to cover the Red Cross negotiations at Mount Keumgang on 28 June, aimed at reuniting families separated by the Korean War. However, after the cruise ship on which the press pool travelled, arrived at Changjon Harbour, Kim In-gu was prevented from disembarking by North Korean immigrant officials. Kim In-gu was the only journalist in the pool denied this right.
This action was taken in spite of the fact that, on 24 June, the Northern administration had been furnished with the personal details of all sixteen members of the Southern delegation, including Kim In-gu, and had sent South Korea written assurances of their “personal security.”
It is IPI’s belief that this incident is directly related to the reporting and editorial policy of Kim In-gu’s paper, the South Korean daily “Chosun Ilbo”. “Critical reporting” on the part of the “Chosun Ilbo” was among the reasons cited for the denial of entry into the North of another journalist from the newspaper at the Pyongyang summit. That incident was resolved, and the reporter allowed into the country, only after the insistence of President Kim Dae-Jung and other high-ranking officials.
According to IPI’s information an official from the Ministry of Unification has unsuccessfully tried to contact the North in order to secure free entrance for Kim In-gu.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president of the standing committee:
– stating that you believe that the government action against Kim In-gu is an outright violation of everyone’s right to “seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”, as guaranteed by Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
– respectfully reminding His Excellency that the 15 June Joint Declaration signed by the two Koreas included a promise to recognise each other’s differences
– suggesting that in this case difference of opinion seems to be the reason for Kim In-gu’s denial of entry at Mount Keumgang
– urging His Excellency to take all the necessary actions to ensure Kim In-gu’s immediate acceptance into North Korea
– further urging His Excellency to do everything in his power to ensure that all journalists are allowed to objectively report on developments in his country
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
His Excellency Kim Jong Il
President, Standing Committee
Supreme People’s Assembly
Pyongyang
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
