Embassies cautious on contact with N.K.

Some South Korean embassies have been criticized for going overboard in their attempts to shun Pyongyang and keep South Koreans out of contact with North Koreans.

The embassies have called for South Korean residents to refrain from frequenting North Korean restaurants, saying that if they do, the residents would be violating the National Security Law. 

These “recommendations” were said to have been issued after Seoul concluded that North Korea was culpable for the sinking of the Cheonan.

The 1,200-ton ship sank in the waters of the West Sea in March, killing 46 of the sailors aboard.

The embassies reportedly were acting on orders from the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, handed down by e-mail. 

Some of the overseas embassies even called for the traveling agencies to stop taking the tourists to North Korean restaurants, according to e-mails secured by some of the local media here. 

The reported embassies included those in Nepal and Malaysia.