A number of civic defector groups in South
Korea issued a statement today urging North Korea to “cease anti-humanitarian
actions of setting conditions for the reunion of separated families.”
Three defector-led civic organizations– The
Committee for the Democratization of North Korea, NK Watch, and Two for One–maintained in the joint statement that “the family meetings should not be contingent on conditions.”
Yesterday, Uriminzokkiri, the propaganda
arm of North Korea’s Committee for Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, released a report titled, “Reunions for Separated Families Must Take Place
Ahead of Anything Else.” However, the piece made clear that to do so would come
with a number of stipulations, stating, “To realize the reunion of separated
families, the May 24th Measures must be lifted, the ROK-U.S. joint military
exercises suspended, and the launching leaflets [with anti-Pyongyang content]
to North Korea stopped.”
In response to this, the civic groups’
statement condemned this as “North Korea’s typical stick and carrot tactic” and
called on the South Korean government to jointly cope with both security and
humanitarian issues–a two-track strategy.”
“For South Korea’s safety, the government must not waver on its policies,” it
went on. “The opening of dialogue with the North must be predicated on
principles of security and then the active pursuit of solutions for the
separated family reunions and other humanitarian issues can unfold.”
