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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Norks threaten, bluster to repatriate 31 drifting fishermen |
| 2011-03-06 |
| SEOUL, March 5 -- A feud between the two Koreas, already locked in sharp military tensions, over the repatriation of a group of North Koreans whose boat drifted into the South intensified Saturday, as Pyongyang openly threatened to use "every possible means" to resolve the issue. South Korea maintained its position to handle the matter by international law and on a humanitarian basis. The boat carrying 31 North Koreans -- 11 men and 20 women -- strayed across the Yellow Sea border into South Korean waters a month ago. Of them, 27 expressed their wish to return home while the remaining four asked for defection, authorities said after weeks of questioning. Seoul tried to repatriate the 27 North Koreans via the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom on Friday but the North refused to receive them, demanding the return of the others as well. Pyongyang's officials news agency KCNA reported Saturday that the North sent a verbal notice to the South demanding an "unconditional and prompt repatriation of all of its 31 detained inhabitants and their ship through the waters to which they had drifted." The KCNA quoted the notice, which it said was delivered on Friday, as adding that, "The DPRK side will not remain a passive onlooker to this case but will use every possible means to solve it." The DPRK is short for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "If the South Korean authorities do not comply with the DPRK's just demand, it will seriously affect the North-South relations and the south side will be held wholly accountable for it," the notice said, according to the KCNA. South Korean officials did not budge. They said they will contact North Korea early next week and urge it to cooperate in repatriating the 27 people who wish to return to the North. South Korea said it will respect a decision by each North Korean citizen who strayed into its territory as to whether to stay here or return to the North in accordance with international law and humanitarianism. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #2 Given the DPRK's econ problems, Kimmie + Regime can't keep up such "bluster" forever - IMO he needs massive or mega international aid [read, US-Allies] on a GUARANTEED annual, perpetual? basis to help preserve dynastic power + espec to deter forced or natural LT Chin takeover of the North. KIMMIE = DPRK NEEDS NUKES, + IFF SOUTH KOREA WANTS TO KEEP CHIN + PLA OUT OF KOREAN = NORTH KOREAN TERRITORY SEOUL, ETC. WILL WANT THE NORTH TO HAVE NUKES. ITALY'S BERLUSCONI once described or labeled LIBYA'S MUAMMAR QADDAFI as "CRAZY/MANIC" ENOUGH TO FIRE SCUDS = LRBMS AT ITALY + EUROPE. KIMMIE = MUAMMAR = IRAN'S RADICAL MULLAHS = like their BRINKMANSHIP + MUTUAL DESTRUCTION OPTIONS?? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2011-03-06 19:01 |
| #1 Shoot a few videos of the 31 "fishermen" enjoying the good life. Air them thoroughly on the news outlets. Then ask them if they want to be repatriated now that Kimmie knows they have seen the truth. |
| Posted by: gorb 2011-03-06 00:45 |