Seoul denounces French terrorist attack

By Kim Hyo-jin

The government on Thursday denounced a terrorist attack carried out at the offices of a satirical newspaper in Paris.

“The government finds it beyond deplorable that many lives were lost in a terrorist attack,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “We strongly condemn this act of terrorism.”

The statement came a day after 10 journalists and two unarmed policemen were shot dead at and near the offices of the French weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, Wednesday. The killings were apparently perpetrated by Islamic terrorists avenging the publication of satirical cartoons of the Muslim prophet Muhammad.

“We pray for the innocent victims of the terrorist attack, and offer sincere condolences to the families of the victims and French citizens,” said the ministry.

It also stated that the Korean government regards terrorism is an anti-civil and inhumane criminal act, which cannot be justified under any circumstances.

The ministry expressed solidarity with the French government saying, “The Korean government will actively take part in the global community’s movement to root out acts of terrorism.”