Posted on 06/11/2004 5:54:34 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
/start my translation
(S. Korean) Government to block the attempt to publicize the N. Korean human experiment -- N. Korean defector Mr. Chung's overseas travel banned.
On June 8th, the BBC documentary film, "Access to Evil", which aired in last February, was shown at both chambers of legislature in Washington D.C..
This program vividly uncovered the N. Korean human experiment of chemical weapons, using the testimonies of N. Korean defector(s). It evoked a great reaction in Europe and America. Last month, it was awarded ' the 2004 documentary award of the year' by Amnesty International.
We met Chung Dae-sung(alias) on June 4th, a chemist who took part in this human experiment. Mr. Chung was scheduled to go to U.S. on the next day to be at the event sponsored by both U.S. Senate and Congress. He was hiding at a place in Seoul to evade the surveillance of (S. Korean) authorities.
In a recent interview with a foreign media, Mr. Chung gave his testimony on the testing of chemical weapons on two political prisoners conducted at a lab in a military prison near Pyongyang. N. Korean defectors on many occasions testified about N. Korean chemical weapon's testing on human subjects. However, he is the first one who said that he actually conducted the experiment.
Q: How and when did you participated in the experiment?
A: Around April, 1979, in the experiment at political prisoners' camp in Pyongsung City near Pyongyang. At the time, I was at the Hamheung Chemical Lab. A friend of mine at 'Deadly Chemical Lab' contacted me to help out with the process of separating Nitrochlorobenzine(NCB, a deadly chemical.) After I help it out for three months, I joined the human experiment because I could get an award for participating the secret experiment by state.
Q: What was the purpose of the experiment?
A: Administer a mix of deadly chemical agents and observe its effect and (human subject's) reaction. In order to obtain a funding for the production of chemical agents, you need to submit accurate estimate of required materials to calculate the amount of production cost. In particular, separating Nitrochlorobenzine would yield Ortho(?) Nitrochlorobenzine, which is mixed with Cyanide to produce a reliable deadly chemical agent. The objective of the experiment was to produce a reliable deadly chemical agent.
Q: How was an actual experiment conducted?
A: There were two political prisoners. We administered the first one with the mix of Cyanide gas and Chlorine gas, the second one with the mix of Cyanide and Ortho Nitrochlorobenzine. The first one died in three and a half hours, while the second one in two and a half hours.
Q: What was the reaction of human subjects?
A: The subjects were already in terrible shape even before the experiment. When they were dragged out of their tiny cells which are like rabbit cages, they could not even stretch their legs( and stand up). Gas(of mixed chemicals) were injected(into the room), they were scratching floors and flailing in pain, while crouching on the floor. Their clothes got torn into rags in the process. They were so emaciated that they could not scream loudly. Instead they made weird noises. Nevertheless, the first subject made a really loud scream 10 minutes before his death. It was difficult for me to imagine how a starved man like him made such a loud sound. Ortho Nitrochlorobenzine destroys central nervous systems and also leads to the paralysis of respiratory organ and its eventual destruction. Cyanide causes acute respiratory damage along with the destruction of brain and internal organs.
Q: How did you observe the process?
A: There were five of us who made observations. We recorded the process while wearing a gas mask behind the glass wall of the lab. We made the record of the amount of time it took (for subjects) to suffocate and die.
Q: How did you feel at the time?
A: I did not feel much because only class struggle and class warfare were drilled into our head. We regarded political prisoners as subhuman. There is even a saying, "A murderer may get to live but a political prisoner won't." I just felt, "That is what happens if I go wrong. I should stay off trouble."
Q: Did you realize at the time that the experiment was for chemical weapon's development?
A: Sure. I knew that I was dutifully doing the defense project for military weapons.
Q: How often were the experiments conducted? Are they still doing them?
A: I am not sure. However, considering that they were running a well-equipped lab, it won't be an one-time project. The last time I saw that friend from 'Deadly Chemical Lab' was 1999. He was the head of the lab by then. To my knowledge, they had 500~600 personnels in the lab and their own production facilities.
(S. Korean) Government to silence his testimony of his involvement in the human experiment
Mr. Chung studied macro-molecular chemical engineering at XX Chemical Engineering College (note: the college's name not revealed here) and earned junior Doctorate at XX Research Institute(note: the name not revealed.) Until he escaped N. Korea in May, 2001, due to his frustration for not getting promoted into a position at the Party's Central Committee, he worked as the head of Perfume(Spice) Institute. He had wandered in China for 6 months before finally arriving in S. Korea on November 27th, 2001.
I was curious about why he is now belatedly revealing his work in the human experiment a few years after his arrival here. Another strange thing is that, even after he exposed the human experiment in his interview with foreign media, all (S. Korean) domestic media are still silent on this issue except one interview article on this April issue of Wolgan Chosun.
Q: Why did you reveal the human experiment only recently?
A: I never had a chance to. In an interview with LA times last March, it came up accidentally while talking about something else. I get to know the concept of 'human right abuse' only after I came here. Back in N. Korea, I considered (general) situation of political prisoners worse than that of the human experiment I participated in.
Q: You mean, personally, you view your participation in the human experiment as having no more significance than general human right abuse?
A: Looking back now, I feel, "I did something horrible." I cannot sleep when I get a flashback of the prisoners dying from chemical agents. The fact that I killed them myself makes quite a difference from the (general) fact that political prisoners dying of brutal human right abuse, don't you think?
Q: People point out that some N. Korean defectors exaggerate their ordeal in N. Korea...
A: (S. Korean) Government authorities tries t silence me. After the interview with LA Times was published, those from U.S. and S. Korean intelligence as well as experts came to me and checked out my stories. Those from S. Korean government gave me the impression that they want me to retract my story. However, I cannot deny what I did, don't you agree?
Mr. Chung tried to visit U.S. in last April to tell his story again. His attempt failed because (S. Korean) intelligence agency took away his passport. Wrapping up my interview at late night, I was anxious, wondering if he can make it to U.S. this time around. He was scheduled to give testimonies to both U.S. Senate and Congress, and interviews with major U.S. media.
The next day, 5th (of June, 2004), when Mr. Chung was supposed to depart for U.S., I got a phone call in the afternoon. Mr. Chung was stopped at the Departure/Arrival Approval Office at the airport.
"They treat defectors who hated N. Korea and came here as if they were criminals, banning their travels. Is this country really a democracy?", deplored Nam Jae-joong, the president of Aegis Foundation who arranged Mr. Chung's trip.
/end my translation
Unbelievably horrible. Not that it's any surprise. What IS a surprise is how S.Korea is trying to silence and hamper his depature.
Why do you think this is?
There are many in the government who believes that it is PC to cover up for N. Korea. These are one-time die-hard pro-North anti-Americans, and their reflex dies hard. Their worst nightmare is to make America look good by taking on N. Korea. Pathetic, don't you think?
Pure evil. Those who, for their own power and gratification, sacrfice the lives and well-being of others, deserve death. It is the responsibility of those with power - whether in government, media, or education - to protect (in the case of the media, protect by telling the truth and serving the truth) and serve those who are influenced by them. To so the opposite is just pure evil.
--Boot Hill
TLR: thanks for post. Nothing surprising from the ROK side. I might take issue with the comment that the ROKs are scared s&^%less. More like the govt's worried about the effect quick reunification will have on their economy.
I know that's a concern, but it definitely pales in comparison to your post.
Aside from the goofball lefties who are too young to remember or care about 1950-1953, South Korea is also afraid of what a crisis would come about from having 17 million North Koreans come running over their border screaming for food. It would be probably the biggest refugee crisis of all time. Still inexcusable however.
I saw a big protest in S. Korea back in '96 when I was visiting my brother who was the 2nd ID back then. It was right outside the Camp Casey gate. My brother and his friend had just gone through the gate and his wife and I were about to go through when they closed the gate -- nobody could come or go.
He eventually got back through but they had to bring in ROK's 4-deep in riot gear to control the situation.
The protest was over a soldier who had killed a Korean hooker. They were angry at America and Clinton. Glad to know there are no Korean thugs anywhere on the peninsula who would ever do such a thing. Deep thinkers all...
bump
Question: Will Kerry and the Democrats continue to undermine the ability of the President to do something about North Korea and Iran and claim they're being patriotic?
I know the fear of quick unification is a factor. However, there is more going on due to leftist background of many in government. Such a general fear encouraged lefties to spout their long-held dogma.
Nice to see you again. I guess Uncle Sam still keeps you busy.:)
Always. Interesting times.
Granted it is WWI first generation chemical weaponry but when used in a first strike at say 0300 hrs against industrial areas such as railyards areas surrounding airfields or against communications hubs & traffic choke points it would have a great effect on the ability of the defending forces to get mobilized.
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