A South Korean court found four former government officials guilty on Wednesday of forcibly repatriating two North Korean fishermen in 2019, despite their intention to defect. The case sparked criticism from global human rights activists. The court suspended sentencing for the men, who held office under former President Moon Jae-in and denied wrongdoing.
Chung Eui-yong was one of four former government officials found guilty of forcible return of North Korea n fishermen.SEOUL — A South Korea n court found four former government officials guilty on Wednesday of forcibly repatriating two North Korea n fishermen in 2019, despite their intention to defect, in a case that provoked criticism from global human rights activists.
The Seoul Central District Court suspended sentencing for the four, who had held office under Moon, and had all denied wrongdoing. South Korea hands down suspended sentences for crimes seen as relatively minor that are not viewed as convictions in the traditional sense, but figure in the criminal record.
The deportation was also criticised by rights watchdogs, including US-based Human Rights Watch, which called it illegal under international law because of the likelihood the men would be tortured. Their fate has not been confirmed. Photographs and videos released by the Yoon administration in 2022 showed South Korean security officials dragging the men over the border into the hands of North Korean troops.
NORTH KOREA SOUTH KOREA HUMAN RIGHTS POLITICS DEFECION
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