Seoul Regrets Chinese Violence
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
The government expressed strong regret Monday over Chinese students' violent behavior during Sunday's Olympic torch relay in Seoul.
Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Yong-joon delivered a message of regret to Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Ning Fukui, Foreign Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said.
``Ambassador Ning visited the ministry to express thanks for Seoul's support for the torch relay on behalf of the Chinese prime minister and foreign minister,'' Moon said. ``Minister Lee expressed hope for Beijing's successful hosting of the Olympic Games, while expressing strong regret over violent Chinese demonstrators during the relay.''
On Sunday, supporters and opponents of China clashed in Seoul as the Olympic flame passed through the South Korean capital before going to North Korea.
Violent clashes took place when pro-China supporters tried to thwart rallies by those criticizing Beijing's crackdown on Tibetans and forced repatriation of North Korean defectors.
Some Chinese, probably students, threw stones and water bottles. A few protesters and riot police were injured, according to police.
Ambassador Ning wished for the recovery of those wounded.
``What I want to stress is that Chinese people, especially Chinese students here, have good feeling toward South Koreans,'' the ambassador told Korean journalists after the meeting with Lee. ``I will continue efforts not to damage the public sentiment of both nations. I think it requires joint efforts by the two governments.''
The torch arrived in North Korea early Monday by chartered plane direct from Seoul. In the North Korean capital, thousands were mobilized to show support for close ally China.
It was the first time the Olympic flame had been carried in the reclusive North.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was absent from the launch ceremony at the Tower of the Juche Idea ― named after the communist state's guiding ideololgy of Juche, or self-reliance.
Instead, Kim Yong-nam, head of the North's Supreme People's Assembly, handed the torch to first runner Park Du-ik, who played on the 1966 North Korean World Cup soccer team, which made a historic run to the quarterfinals.
The flame will be taken to Vietnam after North Korea and then to Hong Kong and Macau before starting the final leg of the relay in mainland China.