South Korean officials avoid jail for forced repatriation of DPRK fishermen | NK News
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South Korean officials avoid jail for forced repatriation of DPRK fishermen

Prosecutors had sought 3-5 years prison time for four Moon administration officials’ involvement in 2019 repatriation
Ifang Bremer February 19, 2025
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South Korean officials avoid jail for forced repatriation of DPRK fishermen
A North Korean man physically resisting repatriation in Nov. 2019 | Image: ROK unification ministry

A Seoul court on Wednesday handed suspended sentences to four former high-ranking officials from the Moon Jae-in administration for their involvement in the forced repatriation of two North Korean fishermen in 2019. 

The suspended sentences come despite repeated criticism by NGOs and escapees over the forced repatriation of the two men to the DPRK, where rights groups say they likely faced torture or execution.

The Seoul Central District Court found former National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong, former National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Suh Hoon, former unification minister Kim Yeon-chul and ex-presidential chief of staff Noh Young-min guilty of abuse of

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About the Author

Ifang Bremer

Ifang Bremer

Ifang Bremer is a former Seoul Correspondent at NK News. He has worked on investigations for The Guardian and The Observer and previously wrote features on Korea for Dutch newspaper NRC.

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