2019 repatriation of North Koreans by South Korea explained

On November 7, 2019, South Korea forcibly repatriated two North Korean fishermen suspected of killing 16 of their fellow fishermen.^{[1] [2] [3]} The pair attempted to defect to South Korea after arriving in the south on November 2, 2019.^[4] This was the first deportation of North Koreans by the South Korean Government since the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement.^{[5] [6]}

Criticism

• According to the Constitution of South Korea, North Korean defectors also have South Korea nationality; therefore according to South Korean law, they should have the right to receive a fair trial.^[7]
• The South Korean Government received criticism for the deportation due to the lack of supporting evidence, which was based on just three days of investigation.^[8]
• The Minister of Unification (Kim Yeon-chul), Minister of National Defense (Jeong Kyeong-doo), and Director of National Intelligence Service (Suh Hoon) were charged with dereliction of duty, abuse of official authority, and aiding a murder by the prosecution on November 11, 2019 and later at the International Criminal Court.^{[9] [10]}
• The South Korean branch of Amnesty International announced that South Korean Government's deportation was in violation of international human rights norms on November 11, 2019.^[11]
• Human Rights Watch announced that the South Korean Government's deportation was in disregard of International Prohibition Against Torture on November 12, 2019.^[12]
• Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that South Korean Government's deportation was illegal under international law.^[13]

Investigation

Prosecutor's investigation was launched in 2022.^{[14] [15] [16]}

See also

• Werner Weinhold

Notes and References

1. Web site: 정부, '16명 해상 살해' 북한 20대 2명 강제추방. n.news.naver.com.
2. Web site: 김연철 “北 선원, 죽더라도 돌아가겠다”.. 정성산 “살인자 누명 씌워 강제북송”. n.news.naver.com.
3. Web site: Deportation of North Koreans Suspected in 16 Deaths Raises Questions in South. November 8, 2019. Voice of America.
4. https://www.unikorea.go.kr/eng_unikorea/news/releases/?boardId=bbs_0000000000000034&mode=view&cntId=54222 Press Releases: Regarding deportation of North Korean residents - South Korean Government (Ministry of Unification)
5. Web site: South Korea deports North Korean fishermen suspected of mass killing at sea. Sophie Jeong,Jennifer Hauser,Adam Renton. CNN. November 7, 2019. CNN.
6. Web site: 美 인권전문가들 "北 주민 추방 조치, 韓 헌법·국제 협약 위반". 윤희훈. 기자. n.news.naver.com.
7. Web site: [칼럼] 탈북자 강제북송, 위헌이자 위법이다]. November 22, 2019. 법률저널.
8. Web site: N. Koreans deported according to 'principles' and 'standards': official | Yonhap News Agency. Yonhap News Agency. 2019-11-14.
9. Web site: 물망초, 탈북北어민 강제북송 관련 '국정원장·국방부·통일부 장관' 검찰 고발. newdaily.co.kr. 2019-11-14.
10. Web site: 탈북민단체 “北 선원 추방한 정부, 국제형사재판소에 고발”. n.news.naver.com.
11. Web site: » 북한 남성 2명 강제송환에 대한 국제앰네스티 한국지부의 입장. amnesty.or.kr. 2019-11-14.
12. Web site: South Korea Deports Two From North to Likely Abuse. Human Rights Watch. 2019-11-14.
13. Web site: '강경화 친정' 유엔인권사무소 "북송 선원 처형 우려". Naver News. 2019-11-14.
14. Web site: Ex-presidential chief of staff questioned in N. Korean fishermen repatriation case | Yonhap News Agency.
15. Web site: Ex-nat'l security adviser quizzed in N. Korean fishermen repatriation probe | Yonhap News Agency.
16. Web site: Ex-nat'l security adviser denounces N.K. fishermen repatriation probe as politically motivated | Yonhap News Agency.