Defectors Call for Unification Minister to Resign

Some 30 North Korean defector groups have called for Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon to resign over his exclusion of a defector-turned-Chosun Ilbo reporter from covering inter-Korean talks on Monday.

In a press conference at the National Assembly on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the groups said, "Cho takes a submissive attitude towards the North Korean regime but lords it over defectors. He is not qualified to be unification minister."

"As the chief of a ministry responsible for helping defectors settle down here, Cho discriminated publicly against defectors," the spokesperson added. "This is tantamount to saying that defectors cannot become full citizens, no matter how hard we try."

The defectors said they are "worried about the future of democracy of the country, which we reached at the risk of our lives."

The ministry wants to arrange a meeting between Cho and defectors group over the controversy. "We're considering it, but nothing has been decided yet," ministry spokesman Baek Tae-hyun said.