The four main radio broadcasters targeting North Korea, Free North Korea Radio, Open Radio for North Korea, North Korea Reform Radio and Radio Free Chosun, yesterday disclosed an actual audio clip of a phone conversation between a North Korean citizen and a reporter working in the border area of China.
The four were holding a joint press conference to denounce North Korea’s attack on Yeonpyeong Island and promote private broadcasting towards North Korea.
Apparently, some areas of North Korea had not had power for three days at the time of the Yeonpyeong Island attack. Therefore, most people were not aware of the bombardment, while those who were aware believed that the battle was begun by South Korea.
In the words of the resident whose voice can be heard in the November 30th recording, “Chosun Central TV said that they (South Korea) took the first action; we also believe that.”
When the caller asked for the truth, the North Korean laughed, answering with the measured tone of someone who needs to watch their words, “Naturally I think so. It is not only me; everyone else thinks so as well.”
However, an ethnic Korean living in China, speaking on November 25th, took a different view, saying, “North Korea is always attacking first. Everyone in Dandong knows about Yeonpyeong Island.” Nevertheless, the person noted, “Of course North Korean people won’t say that North Korea took the first shot. They will always say that North Korea fired since South Korea attacked first.”
When asked what impact military conflict would have on North Korea’s succession, he answered, “(North Korea) has only shells and bullets, right? If they try something else, the world will neither recognize nor be interested in it. This action must have been taken since the international community will only pay attention when there is a battle such as this navel conflict.”
The four private broadcasters joined forces to urge support for their efforts to democratize North Korea at the end of press conference.
Kim Seung Cheol, the president of North Korea Reform Radio revealed a statement, which read, “That Kim Jong Il and his son dare to employ the lives and security of South Korean people as a method of maintaining their dictatorship is down to the inappropriate countermeasure of the South Korean government and citizens to Kim Jong Il’s Military-first dictatorship.”
Therefore, it went on, “The South Korean government and people must create North Korea policy based on a good understanding of Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Eun, and increase the sense of national security.”
“If private broadcasts to North Korea could transmit from South Korea rather than third countries, we could urge change in North Korea more strongly,” it added. “We would like to ask South Korea not to spare their active support and cooperation for private broadcasts to North Korea.”
