The North-South Korea relationship is on tension again following the death of a South Korean tourist who was shot dead by the North Korean soldiers at the Kŭmgangsan holiday resort in North Korea.
The shooting incident occurred on Friday morning. The N.Koreans claimed that the 53-year-old woman had crossed deep into a fenced-off military area and ran away when a N.Korean soldier told her to halt… the soldier chased her and fired a warning shot before she was shot dead at around 5am.
Kŭmgangsan, or Mt Kumgang, is a tourist spot in North Korea. South Korean tourists have been allowed to visit Kŭmgangsan since 1998 but within a fenced zone; it’s a popular place for S.Koreans to take a glimpse of their northern neighbouring land.
The tragedy has caused outrage in the south, as the public is questioning the authenticity of N.Korea’s explanations and called for thorough investigations into the matter. North Korea on Saturday have expressed their regrets over the death, but has dismissed any wrong doings on their side.
From the current development, it seems like there are no other alternative explanations besides what the N.Koreans are saying… which would be a very unfortunate incident regardless. Rest in peace, Mdm Park.
“Cry with Us” is a project album recorded by group of Korean celebrities to help starving children in North Korea. The project aims to give aid to the starving children of the north as well as to give them a message of hope. [Hat tip to Coolsmurf]
Note that the movie-clips from the music video are cuts from South Korean movie “Crossing” and not real footage; the movie is said to be based on real stories though.
“Crossing” is a Korean movie which is going to be aired in late June 2008. The movie is based on a real story about the life of a North Korean defector and his family.
Actor Cha In-pyo starred as a North Korean coal miner who crossed illegally into China to get medicine for his wife. His wife passed away soon after he crossed the border, and he was separated from his 11-year-old son (played by Shin Myung-chul) who was trying to trace him from North Korea.
The story shares the hardship of North Korean refugees in the late 1990s, with famine striking the country and killed an estimated 1 million people.
The North Koreans couldn’t cross into South Korea directly because of landmines and heavy military presence at the border… these defectors had to cross into China and made a de-tour to South Korea instead.
The Chinese government, an ally of the North Korean regime, does not recognize the defectors as refugees and would send them back to North Korea to face stiff action.
Update - Crossing will represent South Korea as a candidate for the foreign film category at the 81st Academy Awards. [Koreatimes]
