Ex-Party North Korean Secretary Gets Death Threat

Police have begun an investigation into a parcel containing materials that are an apparent attempt to threaten Hwang Jang-yup, the former secretary of North Korea’s ruling Workers Party.

The Yangcheon Police Station said on Tuesday that it received a report that a parcel containing a threatening letter and a hand axe was delivered Saturday to the former office of Freedom North Korea (FNK) in Seoul. Hwang is the honorary chairman of the FNK.

A carton was delivered by a post office worker at around 2:00 p.m. on Saturday containing a picture of Hwang painted with red ink, a 27 centimeter-long hand axe and a threatening letter, according to Kim Gi-hyuk, vice-director of FNK, who received the parcel in person.

“Remember, Hwang Jang-yup, the traitor of the people, that now only death is awaiting you. If you do not want to die in a wretched manner, ask for pardon in front of the people now and kill yourself. We will never forgive the great traitor of the people in the name of the people,” the letter read.

The letter claims to be sent from Cheong San Hoe, or an elimination committee, organized to terminate traitors of the people.

“The parcel has the sender’s address, which is Ssangmun-dong, Dobong-gu, Seoul, and even has a telephone number on it,” Kim said. The police, who have sent the contents of the parcel to the National Institute of Scientific Investigation, are searching for the sender.

zeitung@donga.com