In justifying its denial of Cho's request to meet Yoo, North Korea said there is no specific mention of Miranda rights in the agreement signed by the two Koreas in 2004 before they launched the Kaesong Industrial Complex. The agreement merely stipulates the "guarantee of basic rights" by a person undergoing investigation in North Korea.

But last month, North Korea allowed a Swedish diplomat to meet with two female American journalists detained by the North, even though the communist country has no agreement of any sort with the United States. Generally, when a citizen of a particular country is being detained by government authorities in another country, it is a basic rule of international law to allow a consular officer to meet with the detained individual. It is only proper to allow a South Korean official to meet with Yoo. Yet North Korea's refusal to grant Miranda rights to another Korean, despite granting such rights to foreigners, demonstrates just how empty the communist country's slogan of "our people" has been in referring to the unity of Koreans.

It would be utterly inhumane if North Korea tried to use the Americans and South Korean as virtual "hostages," treating them as bargaining chips or opportunities to shift international sentiment ahead of discussions over UN sanctions following the communist country's rocket launch.

The Unification Ministry told the National Assembly on Friday that South Korea would take "strong" measures if North Korea punishes Yoo in ways other than issuing a warning, levying a fine, or deporting him according to the terms agreed with South Korea. North Korea must release Yoo immediately -- and should first let South Korean authorities meet him. The government should revise the inter-Korean agreement as soon as possible to protect our citizens.