Embassies in North Korea told safety can't be assured
Source: AFP |
April 6, 2013, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
NORTH Korea yesterday warned foreign embassies in Pyongyang that it was unable to guarantee their safety after April 10 and they should consider evacuating their missions amid soaring nuclear tensions.
European countries with embassies in Pyongyang, such as Britain and Russia, reported receiving a warning advisory, as North Korea moved two mid-range missiles to its east coast.
"Their communication said that from April 10, the North Korean government would be unable to guarantee the safety of embassies and international organizations in the country in the event of conflict," a spokeswoman for Britain's Foreign Office said yesterday. "Our understanding is that the North Koreans were asking whether embassies are intending to leave, rather than advising them to leave."
Britain was considering its next steps, she said, while reminding North Korea of its responsibilities under the Vienna Convention to protect diplomatic missions.
Russia also received the missive. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was in close contact with its partners, including China, over the suggestion.
"The suggestion was made to all embassies in Pyongyang and we are trying to clarify the situation," Russian news agencies quoted Lavrov as saying.
"We are in close contact with our Chinese partners as well as the Americans" and all participants in the frozen six-party talks process seeking peace on the peninsula, he added.
He said there were "many factors" that needed clarification.
Denis Samsonov, spokesman for the Russian embassy in Pyongyang, told Russian news agencies that a representative of the North Korean foreign ministry "suggested that the Russian side examine the question of evacuating the employees of the Russian embassy."
He said the mission had taken note of the information and was working normally. "We are currently in the process of taking the decision," said Samsonov, adding that the current situation in Pyongyang was "absolutely peaceful."
A Russian foreign ministry source was quoted as saying by the Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies that the security of Russian citizens was the priority in the taking of any decision.
"Unfortunately, the situation (in the Korean Peninsula) is not developing in the way that we would like. For us the security of our citizens is the priority," said the unnamed source.
In Sofia, a foreign ministry spokesman said North Korea had sent letters to Bulgaria and other EU countries telling them to consider pulling their diplomatic staff from Pyongyang for security reasons.
"Yes, we - along with other EU member states - have received such a letter signed by a deputy foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," Dimitar Yaprakov said.
He said that all foreign ambassadors had been summoned by Pyongyang's foreign ministry "telling them that it was ready to assist them if they wanted to evacuate their missions."
"The chiefs of EU missions to Pyongyang are meeting tomorrow there to discuss a common position and common action," he added.
The Czech foreign ministry also said that it had received the statement, with spokesman Karel Srol "confirming the information" to reporters in Prague.
"Each Czech embassy has a detailed plan of what to do in a crisis.
"If the situation required such steps, they would be taken," Srol said, confirming that the Czech embassy in Pyongyang has four employees.
European countries with embassies in Pyongyang, such as Britain and Russia, reported receiving a warning advisory, as North Korea moved two mid-range missiles to its east coast.
"Their communication said that from April 10, the North Korean government would be unable to guarantee the safety of embassies and international organizations in the country in the event of conflict," a spokeswoman for Britain's Foreign Office said yesterday. "Our understanding is that the North Koreans were asking whether embassies are intending to leave, rather than advising them to leave."
Britain was considering its next steps, she said, while reminding North Korea of its responsibilities under the Vienna Convention to protect diplomatic missions.
Russia also received the missive. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was in close contact with its partners, including China, over the suggestion.
"The suggestion was made to all embassies in Pyongyang and we are trying to clarify the situation," Russian news agencies quoted Lavrov as saying.
"We are in close contact with our Chinese partners as well as the Americans" and all participants in the frozen six-party talks process seeking peace on the peninsula, he added.
He said there were "many factors" that needed clarification.
Denis Samsonov, spokesman for the Russian embassy in Pyongyang, told Russian news agencies that a representative of the North Korean foreign ministry "suggested that the Russian side examine the question of evacuating the employees of the Russian embassy."
He said the mission had taken note of the information and was working normally. "We are currently in the process of taking the decision," said Samsonov, adding that the current situation in Pyongyang was "absolutely peaceful."
A Russian foreign ministry source was quoted as saying by the Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies that the security of Russian citizens was the priority in the taking of any decision.
"Unfortunately, the situation (in the Korean Peninsula) is not developing in the way that we would like. For us the security of our citizens is the priority," said the unnamed source.
In Sofia, a foreign ministry spokesman said North Korea had sent letters to Bulgaria and other EU countries telling them to consider pulling their diplomatic staff from Pyongyang for security reasons.
"Yes, we - along with other EU member states - have received such a letter signed by a deputy foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," Dimitar Yaprakov said.
He said that all foreign ambassadors had been summoned by Pyongyang's foreign ministry "telling them that it was ready to assist them if they wanted to evacuate their missions."
"The chiefs of EU missions to Pyongyang are meeting tomorrow there to discuss a common position and common action," he added.
The Czech foreign ministry also said that it had received the statement, with spokesman Karel Srol "confirming the information" to reporters in Prague.
"Each Czech embassy has a detailed plan of what to do in a crisis.
"If the situation required such steps, they would be taken," Srol said, confirming that the Czech embassy in Pyongyang has four employees.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
