Protest in Koreatown Dampens Rare Visit by N. Korean Diplomats

What was planned as a rare moment of goodwill -- the first time in memory that North Korean diplomats had visited Los Angeles’ Koreatown -- disintegrated Monday when protesters sprayed the dignitaries with water, blocked their path and jeered.

The North Korean officials had come here to accept a $20,000 donation to help survivors of a recent train explosion. Local Korean leaders said they hoped the gesture would mark a turning point in relations between the Koreans in Los Angeles, the largest such community in the United States, and North Korea, one of the world’s most isolated dictatorships.

But it all went awry before the participants made it to the photo op with an oversized check.

About 100 South Korean veterans, many dressed in military fatigues from their country’s civil war, blocked the diplomats’ entrance to the Korean American Federation building. When the diplomats’ car reached the parking lot, the 77-year-old leading the protesters lay down in its path.

“But they just went around me, they took a detour,” said Col. Bong Keon Kim, president of the Korean Veterans Assn. He said he lay down in protest because he believed that money given to North Korean officials would simply be used to fund a nuclear program or to extend Kim Jong Il’s military power.

“Why not use the money to buy food, blankets or food items and send them directly to the people who need it in North Korea?” Kim said.

Leaders in the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles had raised $50,000 since a train disaster last month in the town of Ryongchon killed more than 160 people and injured about 1,300 others. Many of the victims were children who were blinded when they turned to look at the blast as they left an elementary school on their lunch break.

Federation leaders said they had planned to give $30,000 to the South Korean Red Cross, to be used to ship food and medical supplies to North Korea. But they decided to hand over $20,000 to two North Korean representatives of the United Nations delegation.

The diplomats needed special permission to travel outside New York City, where they are stationed as delegates to the U.N., because the U.S. does not have normal diplomatic relations with their country.

“The younger generation wants negotiation and open dialogue between North and South Korea,” said Kee Whan Ha, president of the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles.

The donation was an important first gesture, Ha said. Instead, the diplomats and the ceremony ended up all wet.

The ceremony was supposed to start at 11 a.m., but protesters barred the door from the parking lot for 40 minutes. The diplomats, Pu Ung Pak and Kil Hong Jo, consuls from North Korea’s permanent United Nation’s delegation, were forced to circle the building looking for an opening, Ha said.

Protesters finally cleared out when the LAPD arrived in patrol cars, breaking a path so the diplomats could reach the door.

Inside on the fourth floor, Ha and other community leaders handed the two diplomats an oversized check for $20,000. They posed and took questions from a crowd of Korean media representatives who had flown in specifically for the event.

Federation officials said the protesters threatened them with physical violence throughout the event.

“It was a wild scene. One guy grabbed my arm,” Ha said. “Another used big sticks to push my back.”

The protesting veterans deny having been violent.

“It was just conversation. There was nothing even close to any physical contact,” said Steve Cho, former president of the veterans association.

Both sides agree, however, on the water.

As the diplomats exited the building, the veterans took aim, soaking the diplomats’ dark suits, crisp shirts and ties with water.

“It was terrible,” Ha said, “They were all wet -- drenched.” The water also splashed the diplomats’ State Department escorts, the local Korean Americans who invited them and Los Angeles police officers trying to maintain order.

Kim, Cho and other veterans recounted their water bottle tactic with glee. Their only regret was their bad aim.

“We meant to throw all the water on the consuls, but the LAPD got a lot of it by accident.”

Ha said of the visit from the North Korean officials: “I’m not sure they will come back.... I wished it could have ended up in more cultural exchange or even a sports exchange program.”

Ha said he believed those of the older generation, by doing something like this, were hurting chances for better relations.

“I know Kim Jong Il is a dictator and not a nice guy, but North Koreans are good people even as they suffer under him.”

Reached Monday night, an administrator at the North Korean U.N. offices in New York said he had not heard about the incident and had no immediate comment.

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Times staff writer Daniel Yi contributed to this report.