S. Korean Authorities Slammed for Forcibly Detaining DPRK Citizens

Pyongyang, July 16 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the National Reconciliation Council Wednesday made public a statement denouncing the south Korean puppet group for refusing to send back three residents of the DPRK under the absurd pretext despite its repeated demands for repatriation of all its five residents.
    However, the puppet group did not send back DPRK residents to their hometowns but is abusing them for its sinister confrontation moves against the DPRK, the statement said.
    The National Reconciliation Council bitterly denounces the puppet group's forcible detention as an intentional and premeditated provocation escalating confrontation with the DPRK and unethical human rights abuse adding to the mental and physical sufferings of the crewmen in unexpected distress and their families, the statement noted, and went on:
    The puppet group refused to repatriate DPRK's residents with its trite methods such as "defection", a heinous plot to tarnish the image of the dignified DPRK and worsen the tragedy resulting from division.
    It should stop at once the smear campaign and send back all the DPRK's residents unconditionally, clearly understanding that the repatriation issue is not only an issue of human rights and humanitarianism but also an acute issue which may seriously affect the north-south relations.
    We will never remain a passive on-looker to this but take a strong counter-measure.
    If the puppet group refuses to comply with our just demand, it will be held wholly accountable for the ensuing catastrophic consequences. -0-