[단독]Harris expresses concern over ‘war ban on North Korea’ and ‘punishment law 5 18’

US Ambassador Harry Harris is interviewing JoongAng Ilbo at the US Embassy in Seoul in February. Reporter Woo Sang-jo

US Ambassador Harry Harris recently held a closed-door interview with Ambassador Kang Chang-il’s candidate to Japan. Confirmed.

According to glowing sources on the situation on the 20th, Ambassador Harris and Naejeong Kang had a closed-door lunch on the 18th. After the Blue House was announced last month as the next ambassador to Japan, saying, “The right person to unravel the relationship between Korea and Japan, “the US embassy has contacted us first.

A diplomatic source said: “At this meeting, Ambassador Harris Speaking about the War Prohibition Law against North Korea and the Gwangju-related Law (the Punishment for Distortion Law of May 18), I asked if there would be any problem with human rights and freedom of expression (infringement).“It seemed like he was interested in related laws,” he said.

Ambassador Harris did not make an explicit assessment of the Anti-North Korean Warfare Act and the Distortion Penalty Act 5.18, but it is interpreted to reflect the atmosphere in the United States just by taking it and discussing it.

In response to Ambassador Harris’ questions, Kang said: “In the United States, there may be freedom of speech or some other point, but there is a Korean situation on the issue of human rights.” I said yes.

The Anti-North Korea War Prohibition Act contains penalties for no more than three years in prison or a fine of 30 million won or less for distributing flyers or goods to North Korea, including cases where loudspeakers are broadcast to North Korea on the military demarcation line or pass through a third country. The Distortion Penalty Law 518 contains the content that denials, slander, distortions or fabrications against the Gwangju democratization movement are subject to imprisonment for no more than 5 years or a fine of no more than 50 million of won.

Kang Chang-il, a former member of the Democratic Party, was appointed Korea’s ambassador to Japan. Reporter Kim Sang-sun

After the plenary session of the National Assembly of the Anti-North Korea War Prohibition Law and the Penalty for Distortion Law 518 passed the plenary session of the National Assembly, there were concerns that freedom of expression in Korea could be reduced at home and abroad. Some point out that if the new American administration, Joe Biden, who has emphasized democracy and human rights, is launched, it could lead to a conflict between Korea and the United States.

In particular, concerns have been expressed in the United States Congress regarding the prohibition of the war against North Korea. Democratic Congressman Gerald Connally, co-chairman of the Korea Caucus of the United States Congress, issued a statement asking President Moon Jae-in to review the bill on the 17th (local time). did.

Former United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights in North Korea, Michael Kirby, also publicly discussed the issue at an online hearing organized by the British Senate and House of Representatives on North Korea (APPG NK) on the 16 ( local time). “Korea’s enactment of the war law against North Korea could lead to conflict with the new Joe Biden administration of the United States,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Harris said in a meeting with Nae Kang: “How will Korea fare between China and the United States?It is said that he even asked. ” When Naejeong Kang first emphasized the importance of triangular cooperation between Korea, the United States, and Japan, and asked the United States to stand in the middle rather than take the side, Supreme Ambassador Harris asked Korea’s position towards China.

In response, Kang said, “I am an ambassador to Japan, so I did not think deeply of China.”Isn’t that a political response?“It is said that he even joked.

Ambassador Harris recently posted on Twitter, emphasizing “Kimchi originally from Korea” and showing him making kimchi and eating udon and kimchi together. It was read as a rebuttal to China’s claim to become a leader in kimchi.

US Ambassador Harry Harris posted photos of kimchi and udon that he took in a tweet on the 18th. [트위터 캡처]

Reporter Jeong Hyo-sik [email protected]