December 07, 2023
News

Former national security adviser defends 2019 repatriation of North Koreans

Seoul releases video of handover after Chung Eui-yong criticizes reopening of case, says ‘felons’ posed risk to society

South Korea’s unification ministry released a heavily censored video showing the repatriation of two North Korean fishermen on Monday, a day after the Yoon Suk-yeol presidential office accused the previous Moon Jae-in administration of “framing” the men as “heinous felons” without trial.

The approximately four-minute video appears to show one of the two fishermen pausing just before crossing the border at Panmunjom. The man appears to crouch briefly and then crawl on the ground before South Korean authorities drag him to his feet and force him over the border.