|
The South African Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday dismissed an article titled ¡°Kim Il-sung, a Great Modern Leader¡± by Prof. Jang Shi-ki of Dongguk University that claimed the former North Korean dictator was revered as a hero throughout Africa.
¡°Such an incorrect remark by a person with wrong ideas can mislead Koreans,¡± an embassy official said. ¡°We are concerned that if we don¡¯t respond to a false remark by a person who is not in a position to make that remark, it could mean we acknowledge it is true, so we discussed the matter with our home country and decided to issue a press release.¡±
The press release says, ¡°Statements like ¡®Africans feel more affinity with North Korea than South Korea¡¯ and ¡®Since the 1960s, the biggest obstacle to the independence of African countries was the U.S.¡¯ are totally incorrect.¡± It also says it is difficult to understand ¡°how an academic, after visiting South Africa for only two months, can make statements on behalf of South Africans and Africans that are totally distorted.¡±
It is rare for embassies to pitch into controversies in their host nations. Last month, the British Ambassador to Korea Warwick Morris wrote to the Chosun Ilbo in protest against attempts by some civic groups to topple a statue of U.S. gen. Douglas MacArthur in Incheon.
In his post on the website of the National Association of Professors for Democratic Society, Jang claimed Kim Il-sung was a great modern leader from the developing world who dared to defy the U.S. and was therefore venerated by Africans like one of their own.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
