[TigerLikesRooster]

RE #16

He sent several letters to people in America, including some lawmakers, asking their help in this matter. Apparently, S. Korean authories try to drag out the procedure of security checks for N. Korean defectors when they travel abroad, which could last more than a month. His request would be still rejected.

It is not as if they would have trouble keeping track of him. He will be in America and in company of so-called hardliners against N. Korea. What security problem does he have ? His background is patently well-known. I think that the authorities fear that his words will discredit current S. Korean policy toward N. Korea. It is even possible that Mr. Hwang could defect again to America, which would be a huge embarrassment to S. Korean government, not seen since the late Kim Hyong-Uk testified in the U.S. Congress against the then-president Park Chung-Hee.

[TigerLikesRooster]

RE #18

A correction
His request would be still rejected. --> His request could be still rejected.

[AmericanInTokyo]

I've got the perfect solution, then.

The United States Senate should contract with ATT or some other major US telecom in S. Korea that has videoconferencing capabilities; they can procure a simultaneous Korean-to-English interpreter. They can send Senate staff to Seoul to arrange the program and set up the equipment and technicians in Mr. Hwang's residence in Seoul.

The US Senate can then send an official letter to the Korean Embassy in D.C. stating that they are going ahead with an official Senate hearing live by Transpacific videoconference and NOT to interfere with it.

Such a hearing/interview/testimony unraveling the inner workings of North Korea (despite it irritating the conciliatory/appeasing South Korean government) can occur from 8:30 a.m. Washington D.C. time (9:30 p.m. Seoul) for perhaps an hour that will not necessarily be a time zone inconvenience for either party.

This creative approach by the US Senate takes away the Roh Mu Hyon Administration's lame reason that it is unsafe for North Korean defector Hwang Jang-Yop to travel to the United States because of North Korean agents there (or whatever nonsense it is).

[AmericanInTokyo]

Say, do you happen to know who the 'players' on this issue in Washington, D.C. are? Which Congressmen or Senators tried to get North Korean defector/bigwig Hwang Jang-Yop to testify here (against S. Korean wishes) or who are otherwise engaged with legislative staff specialists who are interested in this issue and in a position to 'make things matter'? (If you can Freepmail me, I'll get some things done over the next few days.)