From wharms@soback.kornet.nm.kr
Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 10:25:30 -0900
From: Bill Harms 
To: moogoonghwa@UCSD.EDU
Subject: Another Set back to N-S relations

Greetings Mooers,

The alleged submarine infiltration incident appears to be a serious setback
to the already troubled N-S relations and is as expected creating quite a
stir in the South.

There are several points worth noting that I have gleened from various news
reports:
        
        1. Opposition parties members are joining the ruling party in
renouncing the incident.

        2. It appears that the South Government will be taking a harder
stance towards the north.

        3. President Kim YS is quoted as saying that "...the armed
provocation by the North was clear proof that North Korea was still
attempting to ``Sovietize the South through military means.'' President Kim
(also) advised the public to clear any illusions about the North, saying,
``The nation should now correctly recognize the true nature of the regime in
the North.'' " (From the Korea Times 20 September in an article entitled
Pres. Kim to Refer NK Infiltration Issue to UN Security Council)

        4. Some politicians will likely seriously review the entire
unification issue.

        5. Security issues will be re-addressed and again quoting Kim YS in
the Korea Times 20 September article, "National security should be further
beefed up. Such pro-North Korean activities of Hanchongnyon, for example,
are very dangerous."

        6. The ruling camp is likely to push for a revision of the law on
the Agency for National Security Planning to now more easily allow the
investigation of those who praise the North or those who fail to report
espionage activities. This despite opposition from the some members of the
opposition parties.

        7. A protest of the incident was presented to the North Koreans
through the United Nations Command and the North Koreans refused to accept
it. Furthermore, the North as expected has not even acknowledged that the
incident has occurred. Instead, they accused the South of "making
provocative moves" near the DMZ.

        This information was primarily gleened from the Korea Times and the
Korean Hearld 20 and 21 September and well as reports from CNN, Reuters, and
other news sources.

Bill Harms
Seoul, Korea






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