Sentenced to 20 Years Imprisonment for North Korean Defector Who Fled Together but Killed Another Defector with a Weapon During an Alcohol-Fueled Fight

Daegu District Court. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] A North Korean defector who stabbed another defector to death with a weapon during an argument while drunk was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The 12th Criminal Division of Daegu District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Gyu-cheol) announced on the 1st that it sentenced North Korean defector A (52), who was on trial for killing an acquaintance during a quarrel while intoxicated, to 20 years in prison.

A was charged with stabbing B (53) to death with a weapon during an argument while drinking at his home in Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk, on February 12, after discussing changing jobs.

A and B are North Korean defectors who entered South Korea via Mongolia in 2007 and are known to have known each other since their arrival.

In the trial conducted through a jury trial, among the seven jurors, three recommended 20 years imprisonment, two recommended 25 years, and the others suggested 16 years and 30 years respectively.

The court stated the sentencing reasons, saying, "The defendant has a criminal record including five times of attempted murder and other offenses. While strict responsibility must be imposed, we considered that he admitted the crime and showed remorse, and that the crime appeared to be somewhat impulsive due to intoxication."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.