The Frankfurt Incident - Official US Apology Demanded
Young Kim
Pyongyang September 6 KCNA: The delegation led by the President of the
Supreme Council of the DPRK en route to New York to attend the UN New
Millennium Summit was forced to cancel the trip and return home on account
of foul deeds of obstructions engineered by the United States Government.
The president's spokesman was interviewed in Frankfurt by press workers from
various countries on September 6.
Present at the press conference were the delegates and reporters from
Germany, the United States, Britain, Japan and major news organs of South
Korea. Choe Soo Hyon, deputy minister of the DPRK Foreign Ministry, spoke
on behalf of the President.
Mr. Choe said as follows:
"The President of the DPRK Supreme Council and his party of delegates were
passing through Frankfurt on their way to New York to participated in the UN
New Millennium Summit when they were humiliated by the US. Consequently,
the delegation was forced to forego its planned participation in the UN
Summit and return home.
On September 4th, the President and his delegation members completed all
boarding procedures for the American Airlines Flight #176 at Frankfurt,
Germany and about to board the plane, when several persons claiming to be
American Airlines 'security officials' appeared and stopped the delegation
from boarding the plane.
They proceeded to open the delegates' luggage and handbags and searched them
as if they were common criminals. They asked the delegates to take off
jackets and shoes. They searched their private parts as well.
They were about to subject the President to the same treatment and we
rejected their demand. We strongly protested this kind of ill treatment and
asked them to report this incident to Washington immediately. Whereupon,
the 'airline security' officials left the scene and reappeared after awhile
and stated that they were merely following orders from the management and
that since North Korea is one of the eight 'rogue' states, all persons - no
matter what position they have - are subject to special security searches.
They stated that they could not allow us onboard unless all members of our
delegation were searched. They cancelled our reservation unilaterally
without consulting with us first.
Our country is a member nation of the United Nation of good standing and
this blatant act of disrespect and provocation by the United States is a
serious infringement on the sovereignty and self-determination of our
country. This act is an unbearable and unforgivable violation of human
rights and dignity. It is a naked attack on the United Nations and the UN
Summit.
This arrogant and unusual act is in violation the international laws and
disregards international practices. We cannot but conclude that this act
was planned in advance by the US government, that it was deliberate and well
orchestrated.
The President and his delegates were issued US entry visas and reception
invitations from President Clinton, and yet their entry to the United States
was prevented. This is but one example of the dark sinister schemes of the
United States against our nation.
This act once again shows that the United States is the mother of all
'rogue' states.
We denounce this wanton violation of the UN Charter and a naked attack on
the very first UN New Millennium Summit. We demand the United States to
issue an official apology to the President. The United States shall be made
responsible for all consequences of this incident."
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