catman
Joined: 18 Jul 2004
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 Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:55 pm Post subject: S.Korean Still Detained in North Korea after 100 Days |
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Tuesday marks the 100th day since a South Korean Hyundai Asan employee at the joint Kaesong Industrial Complex identified as Yoo was detained by North Korea. "We strongly urge North Korea once again to guarantee him basic rights, including the right to be interviewed" by South Korean authorities, "and release him immediately," Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung said Monday.
The chances of Yoo's release seem slim. In the four latest meetings with North Korean officials at Kaesong, the South Korean government repeatedly made it clear it will negotiate more money for the industrial park only if Yoo is released, but the North Korean response was reportedly icy.
In the third meeting on June 19, North Korean officials hinted at progress saying the matter "will be eventually resolved," but in the fourth meeting last Thursday they even avoided mention of his name.
It is still unclear why the North is holding him incommunicado. North Korea has only said he is suspected of denouncing the regime and encouraging a North Korean female worker to defect. The North appears to be holding Yoo hostage to a demand for an extra US$500 million for the already-paid lease and a raise of the per capita wage to $300 per month.
Prof. Nam Joo-hong of Kyonggi University said international sanctions on the North and frozen inter-Korean relations mean it is unlikely there will be any progress until after August or September.
North Korea's criminal procedure law stipulates that a suspect for treason or sedition can be held without charge for up to six months. Yoo was arrested on March 30.
[email protected] / Jul. 07, 2009 08:45 KST
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