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CNN Live At Daybreak
South Korea Protest
Aired December 31, 2002 - 08:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: New Year's Eve celebrations in South Korea overshadowed by a massive rally today. More than 20,000 people protesting against the U.S. military after two young girls were killed by an army truck.
Rebecca MacKinnon is standing by live at the scene in Seoul with the very latest on this.
Rebecca, good morning.
REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, here on New Year's Eve here in Seoul, the crowd certainly bolstered by the fact that it is New Year's Eve. But the speakers here making a very direct demand, that the U.S. should withdraw its forces from South Korea. Also, as you mentioned, they're calling for the U.S. to make a direct policy for the death of two South Korean teenagers in a road accident involving a U.S. vehicle this summer.
Now the protesters tried to approach the U.S. embassy about an hour ago. They were repelled by the South Korean police. As you can see here, the crowd very jubilant, taking the opportunity to celebrate the new year, as well as protest against the United States.
Some of the speeches also criticizing the United States for its hard-line policies towards North Korea, saying that south and North Korea should be able to solve their problems themselves without being dictated to by the United States. Generally, the line quite critical of the United States foreign policy overall, but some signs as well saying, don't attack Iraq, and generally, calling on the United States to allow South Korea to determine its own fate.
Back to you, Paula.
ZAHN: Rebecca, do these people truly believe that South Korea alone has enough leverage to cause North Korea to back down on this nuclear power issue?
MACKINNON: Well, Paula for people here, it's a very naturalistic, very emotional issue. This is a young generation here out on the streets. They do not have memories of the Korean War. Generally, they have grown up seeing U.S. troops among them, and generally think U.S. presence here is more of an annoyance than the older generation, who remembers the Korean War, and there is a feeling that the United States is driving U.S. policy, is driving the situation with North Korea, that South Korea isn't getting enough say in the entire situation, and they are demanding more say. Back to you.
ZAHN: Well, the crowd looks pretty civil behind you. Thanks for letting us dip into the proceedings there, and you have a happy New Year as well, Rebecca.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 31, 2002 - 08:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: New Year's Eve celebrations in South Korea overshadowed by a massive rally today. More than 20,000 people protesting against the U.S. military after two young girls were killed by an army truck.
Rebecca MacKinnon is standing by live at the scene in Seoul with the very latest on this.
Rebecca, good morning.
REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, here on New Year's Eve here in Seoul, the crowd certainly bolstered by the fact that it is New Year's Eve. But the speakers here making a very direct demand, that the U.S. should withdraw its forces from South Korea. Also, as you mentioned, they're calling for the U.S. to make a direct policy for the death of two South Korean teenagers in a road accident involving a U.S. vehicle this summer.
Now the protesters tried to approach the U.S. embassy about an hour ago. They were repelled by the South Korean police. As you can see here, the crowd very jubilant, taking the opportunity to celebrate the new year, as well as protest against the United States.
Some of the speeches also criticizing the United States for its hard-line policies towards North Korea, saying that south and North Korea should be able to solve their problems themselves without being dictated to by the United States. Generally, the line quite critical of the United States foreign policy overall, but some signs as well saying, don't attack Iraq, and generally, calling on the United States to allow South Korea to determine its own fate.
Back to you, Paula.
ZAHN: Rebecca, do these people truly believe that South Korea alone has enough leverage to cause North Korea to back down on this nuclear power issue?
MACKINNON: Well, Paula for people here, it's a very naturalistic, very emotional issue. This is a young generation here out on the streets. They do not have memories of the Korean War. Generally, they have grown up seeing U.S. troops among them, and generally think U.S. presence here is more of an annoyance than the older generation, who remembers the Korean War, and there is a feeling that the United States is driving U.S. policy, is driving the situation with North Korea, that South Korea isn't getting enough say in the entire situation, and they are demanding more say. Back to you.
ZAHN: Well, the crowd looks pretty civil behind you. Thanks for letting us dip into the proceedings there, and you have a happy New Year as well, Rebecca.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
