2019 repatriation of North Koreans by South Korea

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

References

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