U.S. rejects North Korean ‘apology’

Press, 24 August 1976, Page 8

U.S. rejects North Korean ‘apology’

NZPA-Reuter 5 Washington The United States yesterday maintained its show of force in Korea after the killing of two American officers despite a personal statement of regrets by the North Korean leader (President Kim II Sung).

The North Korean leader’s; •tatement was rejected ini Washington as not constituting a proper apologyand because of what White I House spokesmen described: as the unpredictability of| Nonh Ko.eans. Since last Wednesday’s ill-' fated tree-lopping exercise ini the divided peninsula’s de-j militarised zone; the United; State’s 41,000 ground forces] in Korea have been rein-1 forced by two squadrons of warplanes, and six warships I have sailed into Korean waters. News of President Kim'sj statement of regrets wasi disclosed on Sunday. At first, the Presidential; Press Secretary (Mr Roni Nessen) said the statement I was received on Thursday.' Later, his deputy (Mr John I Carlson) said it was received in Washington on Friday night — four hours after the naval task force had sailed for Korea on the orders of President Ford. Officials were unable to say why the statement was not disclosed for 36 hours. The two American officers were killed on Wednesday when they accompanied a South Korean working party into the demilitarised zone to prune a tree which, it was claimed, obstructed the) view from an observation] post. The United Nations Com-i mand at the border said] North Korean guards clubbed the two Americans to death and wounded nine South Koreans in the clash. The North Koreans retorted that the United Nations troops had provoked the incident and blamed the United States and South

Korea for what they called “a vicious and provocative act.” Rejecting the statement from President Kim. State (Department and White House officials said it did [ not constitute an apology nor take responsibility for the “brutal act.” A State Department spokesman. Mr John Ordway, added. “We're very sceptical of this message. We are not going to lower lour guard or fall for any propaganda ploy.”

I He said there were no; (plans for any further con-1 ; tacts with the North Ko-1 .reans and the United States! i would not withdraw resolu- ■ tions introduced at the -United Nations Generali i Assembly urging a dialogue] | oetween the two Koreas. I The expression of regrets i by President Kim. believed to be the first such instance since the end of the Korean War 23 years ago, was conveyed to the American-run United Nations Command at • a meeting of the Military Armistice Commission ar Panmunjom. It said: “It was a good thing that no big incident occurred ar. Panmunjom for a long period. However, it is regretful that an incident occurred in the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom at this time.” I It said both sides should I make efforts to prevent recurrence of such incidents in | future. Mr Ford, who is now in Vail, Colorado, resting for the autumn election campaign, was believed to be staying in close touch with the situation in Korea. On Sunday. North Korea' stepped up criticism of the; [United States action in cut-|

ting down the tree where the officers died. The North Korean news agency said that the United States sent out helicopters, jet fighters, and 852 bombers as the tree was cut down and was "frenziedly trying to light the blasting fuse of war.”

In Seoul, South Korea has joined the United States in rejecting the North Korean message of regrets.

A South Korean Foreign I Ministry statement said: “In [view of the gravity of the | August 18 incident, which I was provoked by North (Korea, the message is not [satisfactory South Korea land the United States share the position that it is not I acceptable. i “The message lacks convincing explanations and does not contain acceptance of the responsibility for the August 18 murder,” it added. In Los Angeles, the Democratic Presidential candidate, Mr Jimmy Carter, condemned the North Korean Government for what he said was the “deliberate murder” of the American officers.

He also said the United States must show enough force, “to make sure it won’t be recurring anywhere else in the world.” “I think President Ford has done a good job as far as I know. I think it would be a very serious mistake for me as a candidate to take an opposite position from President Ford’s in a time of crisis where our own national security might) be involved,” he said. “As far as I know, the murder, and it was deliberate murder in my opinion, ;of the two servicemen, is inexcusable,” he added.