Ex-Officials Blast Roh’s North Policy

The National Emergency Countermeasures Council led by temporary preparation committee chair Kim Sang-cheol and comprising 150 social leaders, including former prime minister Kang Yeong-hoon and former national defense minister Oh Ja-bok, published the “Second Statement for National Emergency” on October 19, which contains criticism of Roh’s administration as having lost its representative nature, and a request for a ban on the Mt. Geumgang tour.

The statement, published at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, at 10:00 a.m. this day, said, “Even in the national emergency caused by North Korea’s nuclear test, the Roh administration lets North Korea go on with its nuclear weapon development and agrees with North Korea’s arguments. Thus, the Roh administration has lost its representative nature.”

Kim argued, “The Mt. Geumgang tour is providing funds for North Korea’s nuclear development. Korean people should say no to the tour.”

The statement was signed by 150 social leaders, including former prime minister Roh Jae-bong, former education minister Park Yeong-sik, former health & welfare minister Song Jeong-sook, former army advisory general Baek Seon-yeop, former unification vice-minister Song Yeong-dae, March 1 Commemoration Committee chair Lee Won-beom, former police agency commissioner general Kim Hyo-eun, Sogang University board of trustees chairman Park Hong, former Korea Lawyers Association president Kim Doo-hyeon, and North Korea Democratization Alliance chairman Hwang Jang-yeop.

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