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| August 11, 2002 KST 08:25 (GMT+9) |
North Korea's vaccination demand irks
visitors to nuclear plant site
by
staff reporter
August 01, 2002
North Korea requires many South
Koreans visiting the North's light water reactor construction site to
receive a vaccination shot for measles, and that is creating confusion for a
ceremony next Wednesday to mark the start of concrete work.
"South Koreans born after 1957 who are scheduled to attend ceremony for the
start of concrete work at the nuclear reactor construction site in Shinpo
must be inoculated," an official at the Korean Peninsula Energy Development
Organization said. "Foreigners are not included in the demand; it only
applies to South Koreans."
Many South Korean officials will have to go to local hospitals to confirm
they have had their measles shots or get new ones. Without such proof, they
will be subject to the North's quarantine inspection team at Shinpo Port.
Some officials worry that the North will administer shots at the port, and
the North generally does not use disposable needles.
There has been no case of measles in the South since July of last year.
Dignitaries expected to attend the ceremony include Jang Seon-sup, the South
Korean planning chief for the light water reactor project; Jack Pritchard,
the U.S. special envoy to the Korean Peninsula; Suzuki Kazunari, Japanese
ambassador to the organization and Jean-Pierre Leng, ambassador of the
European Commission.
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