North Korea ordered to pay $70,300 in damages to five Korean War-era POWs



News North Korea ordered to pay $70,300 in damages to five Korean War-era POWs Each of the plaintiffs were imprisoned for at least 45 years before defecting to South Korea in the 2000s Jooheon Kim May 15, 2026 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Former South Korean prisoner of war Lee Sun-woo (left) visits Washington, D.C., to raise awareness about ROK POWs in 2020. \| Image: Courtesy of the Korean POW Families Association A Seoul court on Thursday ordered North Korea and its leader Kim Jong Un to pay 21 million won ($14,060) to each of the five former South Korean prisoners of war who were conscripted into labor after the Korean War, a court spokesperson told NK News. The five plaintiffs filed a joint lawsuit last month seeking compensation for “physical and psychological damages” suffered in the DPRK. Each of the plaintiffs were imprisoned for at least 45 years before defecting to South Korea in the 2000s…, prior to Kim coming to power, according to Son Myeong-hwa, the daughter of a © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update & Podcast Updates Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

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North Korea ordered to pay $70,300 in damages to five Korean War-era POWs

Each of the plaintiffs were imprisoned for at least 45 years before defecting to South Korea in the 2000s

Jooheon Kim May 15, 2026

North Korea ordered to pay $70,300 in damages to five Korean War-era POWs

Former South Korean prisoner of war Lee Sun-woo (left) visits Washington, D.C., to raise awareness about ROK POWs in 2020. | Image: Courtesy of the Korean POW Families Association

A Seoul court on Thursday ordered North Korea and its leader Kim Jong Un to pay 21 million won ($14,060) to each of the five former South Korean prisoners of war who were conscripted into labor after the Korean War, a court spokesperson told NK News.

The five plaintiffs filed a joint lawsuit last month seeking compensation for “physical and psychological damages” suffered in the DPRK.

Each of the plaintiffs were imprisoned for at least 45 years before defecting to South Korea in the 2000s…, prior to Kim coming to power, according to Son Myeong-hwa, the daughter of a

North Korea ordered to pay $70,300 in damages to five Korean War-era POWs

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Jooheon Kim

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