Civic groups blast lawmaker for calling defectors `cowards`

Groups representing North Korean defectors on Monday demanded the resignation of Rep. Lim Su-kyung of the main opposition Democratic United Party for calling North Korean defectors "traitors."

More than 50 members from seven groups including Free the NK Gulag, Association of North Korean Defectors and Free North Korea Radio held an emergency meeting at the Free North Korea Radio building in western Seoul, and a news conference in front of the National Assembly to urge Lim to resign and for her party to offer a sincere apology.

Members held placards reading "Lim, who called North Korean defectors traitors, belongs to North Korea," and said, "We won`t close our eyes to Lim`s words and actions. We`ll fight until the pro-North Lim is ousted."

Chang Se-yul, head of NK People`s Liberation Front, said, "Lim has insulted defectors who came to South Korea for freedom."

Lim Il, a former defector and now author, said, "North Korean defectors who left the communist state due to hunger are now South Korean citizens. What country does Lim belong to if she insults these people and calls them traitors?"

Members of five groups, including the Young Defectors` Alliance for North Korean Human Rights and the Committee for the Democratization of North Korea, rallied in front of the Democratic United Party`s headquarters in northern Seoul. They held placards reading, "How in the world can people who came to regain dignity and seek freedom be traitors," and said Lim insulted the estimated 24,000 defectors in South Korea and the 100,000 in China and other countries.

They delivered a set of questionnaires to the main opposition party that they sought to be delivered to Lim. The questions included what she thinks of the North`s third-generation succession, Pyongyang`s military provocations including the sinking of the South Korean naval ship Cheonan, the South Korea-U.S. alliance and the ruling North Korean Workers` Party.

hparks@donga.com