Citizens Anxious After Nuclear Test

News that North Korea carried out the nuclear tests yesterday made citizens exhibit shock at what finally happened, and express fear about war threats. Citizens also displayed a feeling of betrayal at North Korea going ahead with the tests even though the government has continually been aiding it.

Conservative and progressive groups have usually been conflicting on almost all cases, but on the nuclear tests they both expressed apprehension.

However, while conservative groups state we should, “immediately suspend exchange with the North,” progressive groups say we should, “solve the problem through conversation.”

Unease among citizens-

Office worker Kim Tae-woo (31) said, “Normally, I didn’t feel uneasiness about threats of war, but now that North Korea has done nuclear tests, I’m afraid. Even while I doubt whether war will really break out, I’m afraid the situation might take a sudden turn.”

Bank clerk Kim Si-jeong (28) said, “I was very surprised at the news North Korea did the nuclear tests. North Korea’s nuclear tests, despite the strong opposition of neighboring countries, seemed so ruthless and selfish. Their going ahead with the tests when the Korean government kept giving aid made me feel betrayed.”

Doctor Lee Cheon-yeol (55) said, “While I don’t think it will lead to war, I feel insecure,” and college student Kim Ju-yeon (25, female) said, “It seems like the last card North Korea had to show in order to get the higher ground in negotiations. I hope the government looks through their intentions and copes with the situation pliantly.”

North Korean defector Lee Hae-yeong (43) added, “North Korea thinks other countries will acknowledge it only when it possesses nuclear weapons. It will use the fact that it is a nuclear power state to retain its power. In the end, the Participatory Government has lengthened the North Korean reign and allowed them to do nuclear tests by giving aid.”

An official in the Gunnae office, Paju, Gyeonggi Province said, “Citizens of Daeseong-dong, Josan-ri, Gunnae-myeon, the closest civilian inhabited village to North Korea, have been looking on the nuclear tests with anxiety; yet they are spending their time the same way as before, like reaping rice.” Another official at the 2nd U.S. Infantry Division base in Dongducheon revealed, “We are on the usual working hours, and since the ninth is a legal holiday, soldiers are coming and going freely, and taking rest inside the barracks according to regulations.”

On the day North Korea carried out its nuclear tests, Ulsan Regional Maritime Affairs & Fisheries Offices was loading rice to send to North Korea for flood relief on the 5,300-ton Cyprus Freighter Seto Ariris (captain Sohn Seong-ik, 60) on the pier of Ulsan port. The total amount of rice to be sent for aid is 5,000 tons, and when the loading is finished on the 12th or 13th, it is to set sail for Wonsan port of South Hamgyong Province, North Korea.

Citizen groups all express anxiety-

Conservative and progressive groups have similarly expressed anxiety at North Korea’s nuclear tests.

People’s Conference for Free Democracy representative chairperson Lee Cheol-seung claimed, “The government must withdraw redemption of wartime operations, strengthen Korea-U.S. alliance and restore the Korea-U.S.-Japan 3 way security system.

People’s Conference Against Nuclear Weapons management chairperson Park Chan-seong said, “The government’s North Korean aid ended up helping North Korea’s nuclear tests. We have crossed the line where the nuclear problem can be solved through conversation.” Also, Gwon Tae-geun, spokesperson for ‘Headquarters of Signature Movement Against North Korean Nuclear Weapons’ stated, “The nuclear tests are a consequence brought about by the Participatory Government’s appeasement policy. A new political resolution to deal with North Korea strictly is necessary.

The People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy made a declaration that they, “Strongly denounce the North Korean authority’s military adventurism, which tries to realize its military ambitions by taking hostage the security of the inhabitants of the peninsula, and use it for leverage in the negotiations,” and pressed for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Representative Lee Jang-hee of Peaceful Union Citizen’s Solidarity said, “The North Korean nuclear tests is an act the international society can not tolerate, and should be criticized. Whatever the intentions, the act that created tension in the Northeast Asia regions is not approvable.

Union Solidarity policy chairperson Han Hyeon-su claimed, “To deal with the North Korean nuclear situation, a change in the U.S. attitude of laying sanctions against North Korea is needed.”