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The Korea Herald Exiled scholar quizzed over N.K. ties Intelligence officials yesterday questioned Song Du-yul, a South Korean-born scholar residing in Germany, who returned home Monday after 37 years in exile, over his alleged pro-North Korean activities that would put him in violation of the nation¡¯s security law. Their interrogation focused on confirming the claim made by Hwang Jang-yop, a high-ranking North Korean defector, that Song is actually Kim Chul-su, a senior member of the communist state¡¯s ruling Workers¡¯ Party. Song arrived at National Intelligence Service headquarters in southern Seoul around 9:55 a.m. to undergo questioning, accompanied by his lawyer. ¡°I will speak of all matters in a candid manner,¡± Song said. ¡°I think it is possible to give an explanation that will clear everything up.¡± An NIS official said the interrogation of Song will not last longer than 48 hours in accordance with the criminal proceedings code. ¡°We will question him in a polite but thorough manner, strictly adhering to legal procedures,¡± the official said. He said it will be up to the prosecution to decide what legal actions to pursue against Song based on the results of intelligence agents¡¯ questioning. Prosecution sources said the agency is considering suspending its indictment of Song in consideration of the changing political climate and the potentially negative diplomatic repercussions that could develop if they take punitive measures. Song, a professor of sociology at Muenster University, who obtained his German citizenship in 1996, returned to his homeland to attend a democracy forum and to face the music over his suspected ties with North Korea. Intelligence officials secured a warrant for his detention last week in preparation for interrogating him during his visit to Seoul. NIS agents did not enforce the warrant upon Song¡¯s arrival at Incheon International Airport as the professor earlier promised to voluntarily submit to questioning. He was excluded from a list of participants at the democracy forum who were invited to a dinner hosted by President Roh Moo-hyun at Cheong Wa Dae. More than 40 antigovernment activists abroad, who were prohibited by earlier authoritarian governments from entering the country, returned home to join the event being held this week as Roh¡¯s administration rescinded their entry bans. (khkim@heraldm.com)
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