Deportation of North Koreans by the South Korean government explained

Deportation of North Koreans by the South Korean Government refers to the involuntary and confidential removal of North Korean defectors by the Government of South Korea in November 2019.

Two North Korean fishermen suspected of killing 16 fellow fishermen^[1] defected to South Korea on November 2, 2019.^[2] The South Korean Government forcibly and secretly deported the North Korean defectors on November 7, 2019.^{[3] [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 has 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 their duty, crime of abuse of official authority and aiding a murder at the prosecution on November 11, 2019 and later at the International Criminal Court.^{[9] [10]}
• South Korea branch of Amnesty International announced that South Korean Government's deportation is in violation of international human rights norms on November 11, 2019.^[11]
• Human Rights Watch announced that the South Korean Government's deportation is in disregard of International Prohibition Against Torture on November 12, 2019.^[12]
• Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights pointed out that South Korean Government's deportation is illegal under international law.^[13]

Investigation

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

See also

• North Korean defectors
• Werner Weinhold

References

1. https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/deportation-north-koreans-suspected-16-deaths-raises-questions-south Deportation of North Koreans Suspected in 16 Deaths Raises Questions in South
2. 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)
3. https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=025&aid=0002951124 정부, '16명 해상 살해' 북한 20대 2명 강제추방
4. https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=022&aid=0003413795 김연철 "北 선원, 죽더라도 돌아가겠다".. 정성산 "살인자 누명 씌워 강제북송"
5. https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/07/asia/south-korea-deportation-murders-intl/index.html South Korea deports North Korean fishermen suspected of mass killing at sea
6. https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=023&aid=0003485514 美 인권전문가들 "北 주민 추방 조치, 韓 헌법·국제 협약 위반"
7. http://www.lec.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=714805 탈북자 강제북송, 위헌이자 위법이다
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. https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=081&aid=0003043151 탈북민단체 "北 선원 추방한 정부, 국제형사재판소에 고발"
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. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20221019003400315?section=search Ex-presidential chief of staff questioned in N. Korean fishermen repatriation case
15. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230131003600315?section=search Ex-nat'l security adviser quizzed in N. Korean fishermen repatriation probe
16. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230202005800315?section=search Ex-nat'l security adviser denounces N.K. fishermen repatriation probe as politically motivated