North Korean Human Rights Group Files Complaint with Prosecutors Against Jeong Eui-yong and Others Over Forced Repatriation of Defectors

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] A North Korean human rights organization has filed a complaint with the prosecution against 11 individuals, including then-National Security Office Director Jeong Eui-yong, in connection with the so-called 'Forced Repatriation of North Korean Fishermen Incident.'

The North Korean Human Rights Data Center (NKDB) Human Rights Violation Support Center submitted a complaint to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on the 12th, requesting punishment for then-Director Jeong, who made the repatriation decision, as well as related officials from the Blue House and government, and field officers from the National Intelligence Service, Ministry of Unification, and police, on charges including abuse of authority, dereliction of duty, illegal arrest and detention, harboring criminals, and destruction of evidence. The accused include former Director Jeong, former First Deputy Director of the National Security Office Kim Yu-geun, former Second Deputy Director Kim Hyun-jong, former National Intelligence Service Director Seo Hoon, and former Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-chul.

Yoon Seung-hyun, head of the NKDB Human Rights Violation Support Center, stated, "The government at the time cited the main reason for repatriation as the defecting fishermen being criminals who murdered their fellow crew members, but they are also our citizens under the Constitution," adding, "Repatriating them was a case of sovereignty infringement and human rights violation by abandoning South Korea's judicial authority."

He continued, "We are filing complaints not only against those who decided on the forced repatriation but also against those who ordered and reported on the execution of this illegal forced repatriation, as well as those who directly carried it out or cooperated on site, identifying all as perpetrators of human rights violations."

The 'Forced Repatriation of North Korean Fishermen' refers to the incident in November 2019 during the Moon Jae-in administration, where two North Korean fishermen who defected after killing 16 fellow crew members and expressed their intention to defect were repatriated within five days.

Earlier, the National Intelligence Service recently filed a complaint with the prosecution against former Director Seo Hoon, citing inappropriate instructions from him as the reason for completing the joint investigation of defectors, which usually takes more than two weeks, in just a few days.

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