Ruminations in Korea

Usually, stories like this will hit a “news wall” with in 24 to 48 hours after an event. At that point, the news just keeps repeating itself with no new details or information. Not so the story of Mr. Kim.

The story of Kim Seon Il keeps getting curiouser and curiouser. New developments, accusations, orders, etc. are continuing to surface. Reports will be updated as news breaks:

The Foreign Ministry defends itself from the below statements by putting the blame on the AP. The Ministry says that the text of the AP’s question is important. The Ministry goes on to say that “if the AP had told them about the video and asked the question, they would have understood the seriousness of the situation. However, when asked as a general question, it is possible that no other action would have been taken.”

한 외교부 관계자는 “AP의 질문 내용이 중요하다. 비디오테이프를 언급하면서 질문했다면 사태의 심각성을 파악했겠지만,그렇지 않고 의례적인 질문이라고 생각했다면 다른 조치를 취하지 않았을 수도 있다”고 설명했다.

Here is the text of a fax from the AP where the AP discusses how they came to possess the tape recorded in early June and the AP’s interactions with the Foreign Ministry at that time:

“In early June, before it was widely known that Kim Sun-il was missing, a videotape was delivered in Baghdad to Associated Press Television News in which a man purporting to be Mr. Kim appears to be speaking in halting English about the Iraqi people and the United States role in Iraq. There were no signs on the videotape that indicated Mr. Kim had been abducted or was being held against his will. It was unclear to AP why the tape had been sent and there was no context or explanation for the tape.

On June 3, an Associated Press reporter in Seoul telephoned the South Korean Foreign Ministry to ask if the ministry knew whether a South Korean citizen with a name that sounded like Kim Sun-il was missing in Iraq. An official in the ministry said the ministry was not aware of any South Korean of that name — or any other South Korean citizen — was missing or in captivity.

In conversation with the ministry, the AP reporter did not mention the videotape in an effort to confirm independently whether a South Korean citizen was missing.”

Very very strange stuff here…I am beginning to have the feeling that something is not quite right with Kim, his presence in Iraq, and his becoming a hostage. Here are his last words to the world. Notice there is no, “I love you mom,” or anything like that.

To President Roh, MooHyun.
노무현 대통령에게

please I want to live, I want to go to Korea.
제발. 나는 살고싶습니다. 나는 한국에 가고 싶습니다.

URGENT: From the US Embassy Seoul:

The U.S. Embassy is transmitting the following information through the Embassy’s warden system as a public service to all U.S. citizens in the Republic of Korea. Please disseminate this message to U.S. citizens in your organizations.

The tragic killing of a Korean citizen in Iraq has resulted in numerous anti-US, anti-troop dispatch demonstrations throughout Korea. At this time, the Embassy is aware of several scheduled protests in downtown Seoul at the Kyobo or KT buildings (approx. one block south the Embassy). Demonstrations may also take place in other locales, specifically in the vicinity of US military (USFK) bases, universities or downtown civic centers throughout Republic of Korea.

Please note the following dates/times for the demonstrations at the Kyobo or KT buildings in Seoul:

6/24/2004 ?1800 hours
3,000 individuals to protest hostage killing and troop dispatch

6/25/2004 ?1200 hours
300 individuals ?29th weekly anti-US demonstration

6/25/2004 - 1800 hours
3,000 individuals to protest hostage killing and troop dispatch

6/26/2004 ?1800 hours
10,000 individuals - candlelight vigil to protest hostage killing

6/30/2004 ?1800 hours
10,000 individuals ?candlelight vigil to protest hostage killing

Additional demonstrations may occur during the month of July.

In consideration of U.S. July 4 Independence Day celebrations and the Iraqi governmental transition period, American citizens are reminded to maintain a high-level of personal security awareness, especially in areas where large numbers of American citizens congregate.

Political, labor, and student demonstrations and marches have on occasion become confrontational and/or violent. American citizens and their family members should exercise caution and avoid gatherings of large groups in order to minimize risk to their personal safety. Streets may also close without warning on orders of the local police.

The Embassy encourages all American citizens to read and follow the suggestions in the world wide public announcement issued by the Department of State on April 29, 2004. See http://www.asktheconsul.org/2004apr29.htm or http://travel.state.gov/ .

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul will continue to keep the U.S. community informed of any changes in the overall security situation. To hear a recording of the most up-to-date security information affecting U.S. citizens in Korea, please call 02-397-4114 and press the following series of numbers: 1, 1, 1, 7. In addition, notices concerning security matters will also be broadcast on AFNK television and radio. The Embassy encourages all U.S. citizens to register their presence in Korea with the American Citizens Services office at the U.S. Embassy or via the Internet at http://www.usembassy.state.gov/seoul or http://www.asktheconsul.org/.

Korean Labor Party submitted a bill to withdraw troops from Iraq because, “Iraq’s alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction, cited by the United States as the reason for the war, has been proven groundless. As we know from the death of a South Korean hostage in Iraq, the South Korean troops have been thought as an enemy, not friend, by the Iraqi people.”

Reports are that in the first week of June the Associated Press Television Network asked the Foreign Ministry in Seoul about Kim and was told that the government had no reports of a South Korean in captivity.

It is reported that a US television station advised the Korean Foreign Ministry (who deny knowing of the kidnapping until June 20) that Kim had been kidnapped in early June. Was the government trying to cover up Kim’s kidnapping? Did they ignore the report? What happened. People will want answers.

A video tape with a videotape with Kim saying in English that he liked the Iraqi people and criticized the United States for the war in Iraq was delivered to the Associated Press in early June.

The family of Mr. Kim is demanding that the government explain what happened. I wonder if the government even knows what was going on.

Government “ordered” world internet providers not to post the Kim Sun Il beheading video.