S Korea outraged by killing of tourist in N Korea
Sunday, 13 July 2008
SEOUL, Jul 12(AFP): South Korea's press expressed outrage Saturday at the killing of a female South Korean tourist by a soldier in the North, demanding an apology and a thorough investigation into the incident.
The 53-year-old Seoul housewife was taking an early morning stroll at a holiday resort in North Korea on Friday when she apparently strayed into a military zone and was shot dead.
"A thorough investigation is necessary as firing at an unarmed civilian, even in an off-limits military area, is a disproportionate, excessive reaction," the conservative Joongang daily said in its editorial Saturday.
Another conservative daily, Chosun, demanded firm government
action, saying the North Korean soldier responsible must have known the victim was a tourist.
"The (South Korean) government must make sure the North apologizes, punishes those responsible and pays due compensation to relatives of the victim," it said in an editorial.
The liberal daily Hankyoreh, which said the shooting was an "an obviously excessive reaction, carried the first eye-witness account of the shooting.
Lee In-Bok, one of five tourists outside watching the
sunrise at the time of the incident, said he saw a middle-aged woman dressed
The 53-year-old Seoul housewife was taking an early morning stroll at a holiday resort in North Korea on Friday when she apparently strayed into a military zone and was shot dead.
"A thorough investigation is necessary as firing at an unarmed civilian, even in an off-limits military area, is a disproportionate, excessive reaction," the conservative Joongang daily said in its editorial Saturday.
Another conservative daily, Chosun, demanded firm government
action, saying the North Korean soldier responsible must have known the victim was a tourist.
"The (South Korean) government must make sure the North apologizes, punishes those responsible and pays due compensation to relatives of the victim," it said in an editorial.
The liberal daily Hankyoreh, which said the shooting was an "an obviously excessive reaction, carried the first eye-witness account of the shooting.
Lee In-Bok, one of five tourists outside watching the
sunrise at the time of the incident, said he saw a middle-aged woman dressed