South Korean official apologizes for singing North Korean song at celebration

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - A South Korean government official apologized Friday for singing a North Korean patriotic song from a film glorifying the communist country's spies while he was attending summit anniversary festivities in the North. Yoo Hong-joon, head of South Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration, was criticized by politicians and veterans' groups for singing the song at a banquet Thursday during celebrations of the fifth anniversary of the breakthrough summit between leaders of the two Koreas.

Yoo apologized for having "made a scar" on the otherwise successful celebration and said his actions were "accidental." He said he had learned the song from a North Korean guide on a past visit to the country.

The June 2000 summit was the first and only meeting between leaders of the two Koreas since the Korean War ended with a ceasefire in 1953.

© The Canadian Press, 2005