Pres. Park vows to open all paths for N.K. defectors to S. Korea

President Park Geun-hye on Thursday criticized some South Koreans for avoiding efforts to improve the human rights situation for North Korean residents for fear of the North Korean regime’s backlash and expressing concerns over accepting an increasing number of North Korean defectors to the South. She also noted that neglecting North Korean residents in order not to stimulate Pyongyang would result in solidifying the North Korean regime. The remarks are interpreted as her rebuttal to opposition parties that criticized her encouragement of North Korean residents and soldiers to defect to the South for being equal to a “declaration of war” on the North.

During her meeting with overseas advisers for the National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC) from 92 countries, Park criticized the North for “driving the lives of its citizens into a hell through the brutal reign of terror.”

Mentioning increasing defection by North Korean elite and residents, the president encouraged mid-level North Korean officials, soldiers and residents to defect to the South, vowing to open “all the paths” to enable North Koreans to find freedom and pursue happiness in the South.

In a separate video message to an athletic contest for disabled South Korean soldiers and police officers, President Park called the North Korean nuclear and missile development a “substantial threat that could drive the whole nation to co-destruction.” She criticized some South Koreans for opposing the planned deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system without offering any alternative.

장택동 기자will71@donga.com · 주성하기자 zsh75@donga.com