Koreans denier visitors' visa

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34120, 5 April 1976, Page 18

Koreans denier visitors' visa

Although visas »ere granted to a delegation from North Korea in 1974. the Government has refused to grant them for another North Korean delegation wanting to visit New Zealand this month. The previous delegation i provided a very successful i cultural exhibition in Christchurch. and Wellington, with I the full co-operation of the I Departments of Immigration land Tourism, according to a statement from rhe Demojcratic People's Republic of Korea Society The proposed visit was to have been by three men — ia member of the Korean Soiciety for Cultural Relations ■ with Foreign Countries, a I trade unionist, representing the central committee of the General Federation of Trade [Unions of Korea, and a student. representing the Korean [Students’ Committee The purpose of the visit [was to, "develop friendship and contact between trade union and student organisations of our two countries.” The refusal to grant the visas was contained in a letter from the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs (Sir Keith Holyoake). It said. "Thank you for your letter concerning the possibility that a North Korean delegation might visit New Zealand. I regret that I am unable to respond affirmatively to vour request on the delegation’s behalf for visas to visit New Zealand in early April." The society’s statement said: "New Zealand needs more, not less friends. It needs more, not less markets. It appears to us contrary to the best interests of our country that we should administer such a hurtful rebuff to a country such as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which only recently has acquired full mem-

bership of the powerful Aligned Nations Community The society does not believe it possible that the Korean situation can be proper!', understood by visiting th? capital of South Korea Ant yet. thev say. they receiver a letter recent ly from Su Keith Holvoake. which said ‘You may be aware that the Prime Minister is planning - visit to the Republic f Korea next month, and that will be* an excellent oppor. unitv for the Government t obtain a first-hand impression of the situation.” A visit by the delegation, “would have been an excel* lent opportunity for the nublie. the media, and the Government. to hear the other side of the question of what is happening in Korea To bar entry of visitors appears to us repugnant to the traditions of hospitality of New Zealand." the statement said.