So Man-sul
Encyclopedia
So Man-sul is the current chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the pro-Pyongyang
General Association of Korean Residents in Japan
, Chongryon
, as well as a member of Supreme People's Assembly
of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea).
In May 2006, he met his counterpart of the pro-Seoul
Korean association Mindan
Ha Byung-ok. According to a joint statement signed on May 17, 2006, "Chongryon and Mindan affirmed each other that they would surely convert the long-standing antagonism and confrontation between the two organizations into reconciliation and concord in conformity with the trend of national history advancing toward national unity and reunification in the idea of "By our nation itself", the main spirit of the June 15 joint declaration".
However, Mindan's regional chapters strongly opposed the joint statement,
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WDQ/is_2006_June_26/ai_n16499894 and Ha Byung-ok was expelled from Mindan for attempting reconciliation with Chongryon. The new Mindan leadership criticises the declaration as a North Korean scheme to use Mindan for its reunification purposes, and in November 2006 published an article citing its reasonings behind opposing the joint statement, which it called "against humanity and human rights". http://www.mindan.org/eng/newspaper/read_artcl.php?newsid=756
Pro-Chongryon media blamed this on "pressure from the Japanese government
",
On October 30, 2006, he met in Tokyo
Paek Rak-chong, chairman of the South Side's Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration (see the article Reunification of Korea).
In April 2007, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
requested So and two other Chongryon officials to voluntarily attend the police station to give statements in connection with a 1970's abduction of a Japanese toddler by North Korean agents. Chongryon issued a public statement rejecting the request.
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
General Association of Korean Residents in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Chongryon
Chongryon
The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan , abbreviated to Chongryon The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chae Ilbon Chosŏnin Ch'ongryŏnhaphoe in Korean or Zai-Nihon Chōsenjin Sōrengōkai in Japanese), abbreviated to Chongryon The General Association of Korean Residents...
, as well as a member of Supreme People's Assembly
Supreme People's Assembly
The Supreme People's Assembly is the unicameral parliament of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea...
of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea).
In May 2006, he met his counterpart of the pro-Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
Korean association Mindan
Mindan
Mindan , or the Korean Residents Union in Japan, is the name of one of two main organizations for Koreans living in Japan, the other being Chongryon. Mindan has ties to South Korea and was established in 1946 in Tokyo, Japan...
Ha Byung-ok. According to a joint statement signed on May 17, 2006, "Chongryon and Mindan affirmed each other that they would surely convert the long-standing antagonism and confrontation between the two organizations into reconciliation and concord in conformity with the trend of national history advancing toward national unity and reunification in the idea of "By our nation itself", the main spirit of the June 15 joint declaration".
However, Mindan's regional chapters strongly opposed the joint statement,
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WDQ/is_2006_June_26/ai_n16499894 and Ha Byung-ok was expelled from Mindan for attempting reconciliation with Chongryon. The new Mindan leadership criticises the declaration as a North Korean scheme to use Mindan for its reunification purposes, and in November 2006 published an article citing its reasonings behind opposing the joint statement, which it called "against humanity and human rights". http://www.mindan.org/eng/newspaper/read_artcl.php?newsid=756
Pro-Chongryon media blamed this on "pressure from the Japanese government
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
",
On October 30, 2006, he met in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
Paek Rak-chong, chairman of the South Side's Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration (see the article Reunification of Korea).
In April 2007, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department serves as the police force for the entire Tokyo metropolis. Founded in 1874, it is headed by a superintendent general, who is appointed by the National Public Safety Commission and approved by the prime minister.The Metropolitan Police, with a staff of more...
requested So and two other Chongryon officials to voluntarily attend the police station to give statements in connection with a 1970's abduction of a Japanese toddler by North Korean agents. Chongryon issued a public statement rejecting the request.