South Koreans demand tougher policy on North
Thousands of South Korean protesters waved flags and shouted slogans today as they demanded their country cut off aid and investment to North Korea to punish the communist nation for allegedly testing a nuclear device.
Yelling “Give it up,” the demonstrators – mostly elderly and veterans - gathered on a huge grassy lawn outside Seoul city hall.
They listened to fiery speeches from opposition figures, who accused the government of propping up the North Korean regime and financing its nuclear programme.
“We are facing the most dangerous time since the end of the Korean War,” said former politician Lee Cheol-seung, referring to the bloody conflict in 1950-53 that ended without a peace treaty.
The protest – which police said drew about 3,000 people – came as the United Nations considered sanctions against North Korea for its proclaimed nuclear test on Monday.
The United States and Japan have been pushing for tough measures, but South Korean political parties have disagreed about their country’s policy.
South Korea is a key player in the anti-nuclear campaign with the North because Seoul is a major source of trade and aid to the communist nation.
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