S. Korea set to defy U.S. threat in bribery case

Press, 24 June 1978, Page 8

S. Korea set to defy U.S. threat in bribery case

NZPA-Reuter Washington South Korea was said to; be ready to defy a threat to cut off millions of dollars in American food aid rather, [than allow a former diplomat: [to be questioned about the[ alleged bribery of American’ ; Congressmen. The House of Representa-, tives on Thursday voted to! chop SUSS6 million in food aid to South Korea in retaliation for Seoul’s refusal tol [permit a former ambassador,; [Kim Don Jo, now a special! [assistant to President Park Chung Hee, to testify in i Washington. A South Korean Embassy spokesman said in Washing-; ton it was regrettable that (the House had voted to cut! the aid because South I [Korea “had refused to be; [coerced into violating inter-! national legal order and its [dignity as a sovereign State.”! [ South Korea’s position—' i it would render its co-opera-ition consistent with interna-! i tional law and practice—re-[ [mained unchanged, he said. 1

V He was referring to the provisions of the Vienna Conventions, which protect the immunity of diplomats. The House action, passed by a vote of 273-125, was jin the form of an amendjment to an agricultural bill, [it still must be approved by 'the Senate which is likely to support the amendment, and .by the President before becoming law. The House Ethics Com-. ;mittee says it only wants to l [ask Mr Kim to help identity' ; possible wrongdoing by I Americans, who might have [taken money in exchange for supporting legislation favourable to South Korea. The committee has been [told that Mr Kira delivered [an envelope sluffed with; [money to a member of Con- ! gress and was seen filling other envelopes with money [in his office. The State Department has ’backed the Koreans, apparently fearing that the ’United' States would leave ’itself open to having its own [envoys summoned to testify !jn foreign countries.