Rangoon bombing
Encyclopedia
The Rangoon bombing of October 9, 1983, was an assassination
attempt against Chun Doo-hwan
, the then-President
of South Korea
, allegedly orchestrated by North Korea
. Two of the bombers were captured, one of whom confessed to being a North Korean military officer.
, the capital of Burma. During the visit he planned to lay a wreath at the Martyrs' Mausoleum to commemorate Aung San
, who founded the independent Burma and was assassinated in 1947. As some of the president's staff began assembling at the mausoleum
, one of three bombs concealed in the roof exploded. The huge blast ripped through the crowd below, killing 21 people and wounding 46 others. Three senior South Korean politicians were killed: foreign minister Lee Beom-seok
, economic planning minister and deputy prime minister Suh Suk Joo, and minister for commerce and industry Kim Dong Whie. 14 Korean presidential advisers, journalists, and security officials were killed; 4 Burmese nationals, including 3 journalists, were also among the dead. President Chun was saved because his car had been delayed in traffic and was only minutes from arriving at the memorial. The bomb was reportedly detonated early because the presidential bugle which signalled Chun's arrival mistakenly rang out a few minutes ahead of schedule.
and instead received life imprisonment. His colleague was executed by hanging. North Korea denied any links to Kang, who was sent to a prison at Insein
, north of Yangon.
As a result of the bombing, Burma suspended diplomatic relations with North Korea. China, which had passed on a diplomatic note requesting trilateral talks between North and South Korea and the US on North Korea's behalf just prior to the bombing, reprimanded North Korea in the state media. Chinese officials refused to meet or talk with North Korean officials for months afterward.
In 1994, the representative of South Korea to the United Nations General Assembly
linked this incident with the downing of Korean Air Flight 858
which he alleged was sponsored by the same government acting with impunity.
Kang was Myanmar's longest-serving prisoner. He learned to speak the Burmese language
fluently, according to one of his fellow prisoners. Yangon's moves towards resuming relations with North Korea
led to speculation about what would happen to Kang. Because North Korea denied that he was a North Korean citizen, he may have been considered a stateless person. Kang reportedly did not want to go to North Korea, which he believed considered him a traitor, or to South Korea, which might have tried him for his role in the assassination attempt. In 2006, Chung Hyung-Keun, a member of South Korea's Grand National Party
and a former employee of South Korean intelligence, sponsored a bill to bring Kang to South Korea. Kang died of liver cancer on 18 May 2008.
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
attempt against Chun Doo-hwan
Chun Doo-hwan
Chun Doo-hwan was a ROK Army general and the President of South Korea from 1980 to 1988. Chun was sentenced to death in 1996 for his heavy-handed response to the Gwangju Democratization Movement, but later pardoned by President Kim Young-sam with the advice of then President-elect Kim Dae-jung,...
, the then-President
President of South Korea
The President of the Republic of Korea is, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, chief executive of the government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the head of state of the Republic of Korea...
of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, allegedly orchestrated by North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. Two of the bombers were captured, one of whom confessed to being a North Korean military officer.
Bombing
On October 9, 1983, President Chun Doo-hwan was on an official visit to RangoonYangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
, the capital of Burma. During the visit he planned to lay a wreath at the Martyrs' Mausoleum to commemorate Aung San
Aung San
Bogyoke Aung San ; 13 February 1915 – 19 July 1947) was a Burmese revolutionary, nationalist, and founder of the modern Burmese army, the Tatmadaw....
, who founded the independent Burma and was assassinated in 1947. As some of the president's staff began assembling at the mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
, one of three bombs concealed in the roof exploded. The huge blast ripped through the crowd below, killing 21 people and wounding 46 others. Three senior South Korean politicians were killed: foreign minister Lee Beom-seok
Lee Beom-seok (Foreign Minister)
Lee Bum Suk was the Foreign Minister of South Korea from 1982 until his death. He was among the victims of the Rangoon bombing in 1983....
, economic planning minister and deputy prime minister Suh Suk Joo, and minister for commerce and industry Kim Dong Whie. 14 Korean presidential advisers, journalists, and security officials were killed; 4 Burmese nationals, including 3 journalists, were also among the dead. President Chun was saved because his car had been delayed in traffic and was only minutes from arriving at the memorial. The bomb was reportedly detonated early because the presidential bugle which signalled Chun's arrival mistakenly rang out a few minutes ahead of schedule.
Aftermath
Burmese police identified three suspects, an army major and two captains. A police investigation revealed that they had slipped off a ship docked in Yangon port, and had received explosives in a North Korean diplomatic mission. Suspect Kang Min-chul and another attacker attempted to commit suicide by blowing themselves up with a hand grenade that same day, but survived and were arrested, although Kang lost an arm. A third suspect named Zin Bo, believed to be a major from North Korean Army went missing, but was hunted down by the Burmese Army, and managed to kill three soldiers before being shot. Kang Min-chul confessed his mission and links to North Korea, an action by which he was able to avoid a death sentenceCapital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
and instead received life imprisonment. His colleague was executed by hanging. North Korea denied any links to Kang, who was sent to a prison at Insein
Insein
Not to be confused with Insein, KaleInsein Township is located in the northern Yangon. The township comprises 21 wards, and shares borders with Shwepyitha township in the north, Hlaingthaya township in the west, and Mingaladon township in the east and south...
, north of Yangon.
As a result of the bombing, Burma suspended diplomatic relations with North Korea. China, which had passed on a diplomatic note requesting trilateral talks between North and South Korea and the US on North Korea's behalf just prior to the bombing, reprimanded North Korea in the state media. Chinese officials refused to meet or talk with North Korean officials for months afterward.
In 1994, the representative of South Korea to the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
linked this incident with the downing of Korean Air Flight 858
Korean Air Flight 858
Korean Air Flight 858 was a scheduled international passenger flight between Baghdad, Iraq, and Seoul, South Korea that exploded in mid-air on 29 November 1987 after two North Korean agents planted a bomb in the passenger cabin...
which he alleged was sponsored by the same government acting with impunity.
Kang was Myanmar's longest-serving prisoner. He learned to speak the Burmese language
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
fluently, according to one of his fellow prisoners. Yangon's moves towards resuming relations with North Korea
Foreign relations of North Korea
The foreign relations of North Korea are often tense and unpredictable. Since the Korean War armistice in 1953, the North Korean government has been largely isolationist, becoming one of the world's most authoritarian societies...
led to speculation about what would happen to Kang. Because North Korea denied that he was a North Korean citizen, he may have been considered a stateless person. Kang reportedly did not want to go to North Korea, which he believed considered him a traitor, or to South Korea, which might have tried him for his role in the assassination attempt. In 2006, Chung Hyung-Keun, a member of South Korea's Grand National Party
Grand National Party
The Grand National Party is a conservative political party in South Korea. Its Korean name, Hannara, has a double meaning as "Great National" and "Korean National." The GNP holds a majority of seats in the 18th Assembly, lasting from 2008 to 2012....
and a former employee of South Korean intelligence, sponsored a bill to bring Kang to South Korea. Kang died of liver cancer on 18 May 2008.
List of victims
- Seo Seok-jun (서석준), Deputy Prime Minister
- Lee Beom-seokLee Beom-seok (Foreign Minister)Lee Bum Suk was the Foreign Minister of South Korea from 1982 until his death. He was among the victims of the Rangoon bombing in 1983....
(이범석), Minister of Foreign Affairs - Kim Dong-hwi (김동휘), Minister of Commerce
- Suh Sang-ChulSuh Sang-ChulSuh Sang-Chul was a South Korean economist, educator and administrator.-Biography:He was born as a son of the father, Suh Chang-sun who ran a brewery business and the mother, Gwak Bok-sun in Hongseong, South Chungcheong province in 1935. As Suh graduated Seoul High School in 1954, he entered...
(서상철), Minister of Power Resources - Ham Byeong-chun (함병춘), Presidential Chief of Staff
- Lee Gye-cheol (이계철), Ambassador to Burma
- Kim Jae-ik (김재익), senior Presidential Secretary for Economic
- Ha Dong-seon (하동선), Planning Director of International Cooperation Committee
- Lee Gi-uk (이기욱), Vice-Minister of Finance
- Gang In-hui (강인희), Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Forest, Fishery
- Kim Yong-hwan (김용환), Vice-Minister of Science and Technology
- Sim Sang-u (심상우), a member of the National Assembly
- Min Byeong-seok (민병석), physician in attendance on the President
- Lee Jae-gwan (이재관), presidential press secretary
- Han Gyeong-hui (한경희), a presidential guard
- Jeong Tae-jin (정태진), a presidential guard
- Lee Jung-hyeon (이중현), reporter of The Dong-a Ilbo