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Former South Korean spies who operated in North Korea on Friday lobbed firecrackers and sprayed fire extinguishers at police during an anti-Japanese protest. Police foiled an attempt by some 30 of the former spies to enter the Japanese Embassy in Seoul holding a large placard opposing Japan’s bid for a permanent U.N Security Council seat.
After police forced protesters to disperse, the organization of former agents staged another violent demonstration in front of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, wielding picks and hammers and detonating firecrackers. Some members climbed onto a van and sprayed police with a fire extinguisher. The organization’s head Oh Bok-seop tried to assemble a hunting rifle, but police took away the weapon. Police also seized two explosive devices without a detonator and arrested 27 people on the scene.
Some 300 police officers had been dispatched ahead of the protest and security was tight around the Japanese embassy from 11:00 a.m.
The organization also held a mock funeral of Japanese ambassador Toshiyuki Takano in front of his residence in Seoul, burning the coffin and launching flaming arrows. On April 15, the former spy group sent a fax to the Japanese ambassador warning they would tear down the Embassy unless he left Korea voluntarily.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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