Back-Channel Negotiations Are Underway
Representative Lim Commented On Repatriation Issue of the POWs and Abductees, as well as Plan for the UN General Assembly
(Sept. 3, 1955, Cho-sun Daily, 1st page)

Just back in the country, Lim Byeong Jik, South Korea’s Permanent Representative to the UN, held a press conference with foreign and domestic reporters yesterday morning at the Foreign Ministry.

Contrary to the increasing probability that Japan and West Germany will be admitted to the UN at the upcoming 10th General Assembly meeting, which is scheduled to open on the 20th, he thinks the probability for South Korean entry is slim. On a related note, Representative Lim expressed the opinion that at this General Assembly meeting, the debate on amendment to the UN charter to abolish the right of veto would not be pushed forward because of the general election in one of the member countries, by which he was implying the upcoming general election in the US next year.

With regard to the issues of Korea’s reunification and repatriating Korean anti-communist POWs in India to their home country, Representative Lim said the government was preparing a solid plan and would be strongly pushing these at this UN General Assembly meeting. Although Representative Lim avoided concrete remarks about these issues, he said there was no change from the 14-point principles put forth last year by Representative Byeon Young Tae at the Geneva Talks. About repatriation of the civilians abducted to North Korea and POWs, he said there were back-channel negotiations underway that he was unable to officially announce now.

Representative Lim said at the UN General Assembly meeting he would put forward the issue of dissolving the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, which is composed of four nations. Or if one or two of the nations withdrew they could also in effect bring about its loss of functioning, he commented.