'Iron curtain’ round N.Z.
The Government was erecting an iron curtain round New Zealand when it forbade Norfh Koreans to enter, said the national secretary of the New Zealand Democratic People's Republic of Korea Society (Mr W, Rosenberg), He was referring to a decision by the Government not to allow a delegation of four from North . Korea to visit New Zealandon on a cultural exchange visit with the New' Zealand People’s Republic of Korea Society.' When the was made earlier’ this month the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) said that he was more concerned with demonstrating friendship for the Republic of Korea (South Korea) than he was with welcoming representatives of the Communist North. Mr Rosenberg said that Mr Muldoon’s friendship for South Korea should
not Oe a reason for banning New Zealanders from meeting North Koreans. Further, his special relationship with South Korea was ’’extraordinary” at a time when great protestations were being made for human rights throughout the world.
“We suggest that the Government's discrimination against die Democratic People’s Republic of Koreans illogical and hostile to New Zealand’s own interests,” Mr Rosenberg said. ’’North Korea under President Kim 11 Sung is probably the most successful developing society in Asia.” Mr Rosenberg said that North Korea was the only country’ in the world to have abolished all personal taxation, drawing all income from the profits of State and municipally owned enterprise. “Why should Mr Muldoon stop the entry of a
tew Koreans from the . north who would like to show some of. th.e cultural achievements of their country?” he asked. The prohibition was all . the more regretable when New Zealanders were met in North Korea with the utmost hospitality, Mr Rosenberg said. “We do not think it could do any harm to use or to the North Koreans to learn how we live in our society here,” he said. “It is on the basis of such exchange of friendly travellers that bridges can be built and the danger of war and international hatred be broken down.”
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19800402.2.129
Bibliographic details
Press, 2 April 1980, Page 21
Word Count
336'Iron curtain’ round N.Z. Press, 2 April 1980, Page 21
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.