Gov`t Strongly Protests `China`s Execution of a Korean Drug Dealer`

President Kim Dae-Jung expressed regret yesterday over the Chinese government`s execution of Mr. Shin, South Korean citizen, convicted of drug trafficking last month without giving prior notification to the South Korean government.

President Kim said at a cabinet meeting, ``According to the Vienna convention on consular affairs, when a nation arrests or executes a foreign national, the government is obliged to immediately notify the concerned nation. Although a crime should be dealt with as is, it should be handled apart from giving information on the person.``

Vice Foreign Minister Choi Sung-Hong summoned Chinese Ambassador Li Bin, and lodged an official protest over the recent incident, demanding that ``the Chinese government should immediately provide information on judicial procedures involving South Korean citizens convicted of crime in China hereafter.``

Chinese Ambassador Li Bin promised to deliver Seoul`s complaint to the Chinese government saying that this incident should not hurt the rapidly improving bilateral ties between the two nations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it would resume the South Korea-China consular meeting, which was delayed due to the terrorists attacks in the U.S., as early as possible to discuss the issue of concluding consular agreement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also plans to investigate the incident by sending Choi Byong-Hyo inspector to China Monday morning.

taylor55@donga.com