Text Fwd: NK turns to emails, fax to claim innocence

Korea Times
05-29-2010 21:21
NK turns to emails, fax to claim innocence

North Korea emailed and faxed documents to various social and religious organizations in South Korea to claim its innocence on the Cheonan attack, in what authorities suspect to be a ploy to incite social instability in the nation ahead of the June 2 elections.

At least nine civic and religious organizations received a letter from the North, which claimed that the international inquiry that earlier held the North responsible for the fatal attack involving the Cheonan was fabrication by the South government, Yonhap news agency said on Saturday.

Authorities are investigation the case after these organizations reported the matter to the police.

In one instance, a Buddhist temple received a 15-page faxed document from a North Korean Buddhist organization, signed by a monk who identified himself as serving in the same denomination in North Korea, claiming that the South's evidence was fabricated. The North's documents also had a point-by-point rebuttal to the South's findings, it said.

The police suspect the North's latest PR offense is also aimed at defusing the mounting international criticism against the North.

South Korea is slated to hold elections on June 2 that will select new provincial governors and mayors.