Ruling Party: "Announcement of '16 Fishermen Killed in Forced Repatriation' is False... Moon Colluded with Kim Jong-un"

People Power Party National Security Disorder Investigation TF 3rd Meeting
Han Gi-ho "Lied to Repatriate North Korean Defector Broker"

Han Gi-ho, Chairman of the People Power Party's Task Force on the Investigation of National Security Disruptions, is attending the first meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Regarding the 'Forced Repatriation of North Korean Fishermen' incident, claims have emerged that the two North Korean fishermen, who were previously identified as 'heinous criminals' responsible for killing 16 people, were actually brokers who helped with the defection.

Han Ki-ho, a member of the People Power Party and chairman of the National Security Disorder Investigation Task Force, held the third meeting at the National Assembly on the 20th and stated, "I directly heard testimony from a defector. The Moon Jae-in administration's announcement that the two North Korean fishermen killed 16 people was false."

Han said, "These 16 people planned to defect using a squid fishing boat. After one person disembarked on land, they were supposed to board with 16 others, but they were arrested by the Security Department. Two people who remained on the squid boat sensed something and fled south just before the arrest, according to testimony."

He continued, "The claim that 16 people were killed was a lie made to repatriate the two defection brokers. The Moon Jae-in administration is said to have confirmed this through joint interrogations, but all five households attempting to defect disappeared from Kimchaek City, and their whereabouts and survival status are unknown," he said.

He added, "Some family members of the five households attempting to defect testified that they had already defected in the past and currently reside in the Republic of Korea before the defection attempt. According to other testimonies, the 17-ton squid boat they boarded was never a normal fishing vessel."

Based on Han's statements, it is likely that the vessel was not primarily a squid fishing boat but rather a boat carrying defection brokers and North Korean residents attempting to defect.

Han said, "Squid fishing is conducted at night, so the claim that they slept in the cabin at night is false. The fishing locations are designated by the captain for each individual, and the designated locations cannot be changed arbitrarily. After fishing, each person manages their own squid drying racks, personally drying and managing the squid they caught, and they never leave their assigned location to prevent loss. The claim that they called each sleeping crew member to kill them is a lie."

He also criticized, "In North Korea, rumors circulate among all residents that they should not go to South Korea because the National Intelligence Service will repatriate them. This should be seen as a successful collusion between former President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission."

Assemblyman Tae Yong-ho, a member of the National Security Disorder TF, said, "The lies of former National Security Office Chief Chung Eui-yong are being revealed one by one. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice, which is responsible for the law, responded that it was 'not involved' in the forced repatriation decision process. Furthermore, the Ministry of Justice received a request for legal review from the Blue House just before the forced repatriation but gave a negative opinion."

Tae said, "Former Chief Chung and the Democratic Party claim that even if the fishermen are handed over to the court, they will be acquitted because they completely destroyed evidence by erasing bloodstains on the boat and repainting it. However, at that time, Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-chul said, 'There were various traces on the boat they boarded,' and the deputy spokesperson also said, 'There were some traces like bloodstains inside the boat.' It seems even people from the Moon Jae-in administration are confused about whether there is evidence to legally judge them as heinous criminals or not," he pointed out.

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