S. Korean journalists arguing with N. Korean handlers (wearing blue arm band.)
Posted on 03/22/2006 10:19:38 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
South Korean media protest North Korea press freedoms
1 hour, 28 minutes ago
South Korean reporters covering inter-Korean family reunions in North Korea are returning home in protest at press freedom curbs, media pool reports said.
North Korean officials prevented two South Korean broadcasters from transmitting stories earlier in the week and asked one reporter from the SBS commercial television network to leave the country on Wednesday.
"Because of the North's restrictions on media coverage, a reporter from SBS had to return to South Korea and the principle of press freedom has been breached," the 24 reporters said in a statement.
"There is no reason for us to stay any longer at Mount Kumgang."
North Korea objected on Monday to South Korean reporters from SBS and another network MBC referring to one member of the North Korean delegation as an "abductee."
The 76-year-old fisherman, who was meeting his South Korean wife, had been abducted to North Korea in 1969, according to South Korean officials.
South Korea says 485 South Koreans, including fishermen, and some 500 former prisoners of war, are being held in North Korea against their will.
But Pyongyang denies the existence of "abductees," claiming the South Koreans freely opted to live in the communist state.
The dispute escalated Wednesday when North Korean officials prevented a group of 149 aged South Koreans from returning home to South Korea.
The North Koreans said they could only leave if the SBS reporter left with them.
The reunions are taking place at the scenic Mount Kumgamg resort just north of the inter-Korean border.
Earlier the North Koreans had threatened to punish the reporter "under the laws of the people's republic," according to pool reports from the resort.
South Korea's Unification Minister Lee Jong-Seok said he regretted North Korea's conduct.
"The government finds it regrettable that the North restricts media coverage of the reunions and delayed the departure of the (South Korean) families returning home," Lee said in a statement.
"This North Korean attitude will not be helpful for the development of inter-Korean ties at all and it all runs against the principle of humanism," he said.
There is only so much openness they can handle. The N. Korean regime is based on giant lies.
This will play badly in S. Korea. Ticking off journalists may lead to more unflattering coverage of N. Korea.
Ping!
What would lead Chia Pet only Hollywood and Tass news wire I think Tass News wire onlyyyyy Western media outlet operate INSIDE NORTH KOREA
Tass is a "Western media ?" Technically, it may be true. However, with Putin in charge, somehow it does not seem right. It could be a media of "Wild West" run by oil baron and his goons, though.:)
OH MAN they not
I didn't know that LOL! OH OKAY so it like if Al Capone running CHicago newspapers LOL! I SEEE ROFL
S. Korean journalists arguing with N. Korean handlers (wearing blue arm band.)
"This will play badly in S. Korea. Ticking off journalists may lead to more unflattering coverage of N. Korea."
Good! But I have a feeling the S. Korea journalists will forget soon enough.
btw - the headline is misleading. It makes it sound as though there is freedom of press in N. Korea. They should have said "lack of N. Korea press freedoms".
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