'Stay out of Korea’

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33878, 25 June 1975, Page 10

'Stay out of Korea’

“New Zealanders should not be drawn into a war in defence of Soulh Korea, which may try to deflect the dissatisfaction of its people by aggressive actions externally.” This is the advice given in a joint statement from the chairman and the secretary of the New ZealandDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea Society (Messrs Wl E. Wilmott and W. Rosenberg). liie statement says that if'

New Zealand, like Australia, established diplomatic relations with North Korea, its information about that prosperous country would be better, “and articles like those of Victor Zorza could be read with the scepticism they deserve.” “Until Korea is reunited there will be tension in that part of the world, and New Zealand should not take sides,” the statement says. “Koreans should be allowed to solve their problems without external intervention. “If it is recalled that North Korea has a population of only 144 million, and that 'there are 33 million people in ’South Korea, the desire to

, achieve unification without! •i external interference can be irseen as a fair proposition. 1 “The country is as artifici-! ally divided as was Vietnam,! > and the people of Korea are! I unanimous that Korea is one! • country. This being so, the South Korean Government is! I a threat to North Korea.” ! The statement also says! ■ that the Korean poet, Kim : Chi Ha, was rearrested under; the anti-Communist law, and' I could receive the death penalty. “Kim was arrested because he published informa-; i.tion he had learned in prison! > about the miscarriage of! in the execution of! II seven political prisoners,” the] > I statement says.