Investigators to Seek Arrest Warrant for Some Delegates to North

Investigation authorities said yesterday they plan to seek arrest warrants as early as today for some of the 16 delegates to the Pyongyang 8.15 Grand Festival of the National Reunification, who were arrested at Gimpo Airport on Tuesday, on charges of violating the anti-communist National Security Law.

A prosecution official said that the investigation authorities will seek arrest warrants for some of the 16 detainees Thursday morning since they have to release the suspects if they do not seek the arrest warrants within 48 hours.

The Prosecutors Office, the police, and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) were reported to have come up with the charges and the list of people to request the arrest warrents. However, they are avoiding any official announcement or statement with regard to the investigation.

The NIS grilled five officials of Beom Min Nyeon (the Pan-National Alliance for Reunification), including Kim Kyoo-Chul, vice president, whether they have contacted the North prior to their departure, and what they discussed at the meeting with their North Korean counterparts. The police investigated 11 people, including Prof. Kang Jeong-Ku (56. Policy chief of the Unification Solidarity) of Sociology Department at Dongkuk University, over their alleged activities in Pyongyang, such as leaving a memo that said ``let`s achieve the task of unification by inheriting the spirit of Mangyongdae.`` at the visitor`s note of Mangyongdae, and participating in the ceremony at the Monument to the Three Charters of the Reunification.

The police confiscated computer files and other materials from the residence and offices of Prof. Kang, Chun Sang-Bong (36, President of the Han Chong Nyeon), and Choi Kyoo-Yup (48. Head of the Independent Unification Committee of the Democratic Workers Party). The Police is analyzing the computer files, books and personal notes, and it is considering a plan to expand the confiscation.

Huh Mun-Myung angelhuh@donga.com