North Korean Delegates for June 15 National Meeting Arrive

On the afternoon of June 14, North Korean delegates and 126 others belong to the pro-North Korean residents’ league in China and Japan entered the country on a charter flight of Goryeo Airlines to participate in “The Grand National Meeting commemorative of the fourth anniversary of the June 15 Joint Declaration” whose opening ceremony is scheduled on June 15.

Under the auspices of Kim Dae-jung library in Yonsei University and the North Korean Research Institute for Unification Problems, the ceremony took place in Mt. Keumkang in 2001 and 2002, and was held in both Seoul and Pyeongyang last year. This time, it is going to be held in Incheon until June 17.

The North Korean delegation is composed of 103 including Kim Jeong-ho, leader of the delegates who is the chairman of the central committee of the Chosun Literary Confederation, Kim Young-do, vice-chairman of the central committee of the Chosun Occupation Confederation, Gil Sang-bong, vice-chairman of the central committee of the Chosun Farm Workers’ Union, and Jeon Woong-ryul, vice-chairman of the northern office of the Pan-National Alliance for the Unification of the Homeland. The delegation also includes 20 art-performing group members and 15 press members.

For South Korean participants, Bishop Choi Gi-San undertook the responsibilities of executive chief of the ceremony. Yoon Jae-cheol, executive chairman of the Korean Reconciliation and Collaboration Conference, and Han Sang-ryul, executive representative of the Unification Collective, will attend the ceremony.

South, North and foreign resident delegates will declare the opening of the ceremony and adopt a “Declaration for Grand National Unity.”

During the ceremony on June 15, performances of South and North Korean art-performance groups, spiritual ceremonies on unification, exchange exhibitions of South and North Korean artists, and a public marathon race will take place in Munhak Stadium and the outdoor square of the Incheon Multiculture & Arts Center.

In addition, on June 15, ex-minister of the Ministry of Unification, Im Dong-won, who visited North Korea four times as a presidential envoy between 2000 and 2002, will lead an international debate in the Grand Hilton Seoul after the special speech of ex-president Kim Dae-jung.

In the meantime, it drew attention that Lee Hyun-ok (55, principal of Gaesun One High school in Pyeongyang), a daughter of an unconverted long-term prisoner Lee In-mo (87) who was sent to North Korea in 1993, was included in North Korea delegation. Lee was a member of partisan group organized by Lee Hyun-sang and captured in 1952. He was kept in prison until 1988 because he refused to convert.

Hee-Jae Park min07@donga.com