"A Man in His 40s Attempted Defection to North Korea Due to Social Maladjustment, Citing Sick Family There"

On the 2nd, residents were seen moving around the Gaepung County area of Hwanghaebuk-do, North Korea, as viewed from the Odusan Unification Observatory in Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] A man in his 40s who repeatedly attempted to defect to North Korea due to difficulties in social life was sentenced to imprisonment.

On the 16th, according to the legal community, the Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 3 (Presiding Judge Jung Sooyoung) sentenced A (41) to one year in prison and one year of disqualification on charges of infiltration and escape under the National Security Act.

A was indicted on charges of attempting to defect to North Korea by visiting Dongmyeong Port in Sokcho City, Gangwon Province, and Geojin Port in Goseong County over two days on September 4 and 5 last year, demanding captains to take him to North Korea.

At the time, A proposed to the captains, "Please take me to the North. I will reward you," but after being rejected, he was found to have fabricated lies, saying, "I have a sick family member in North Korea."

After failing to defect, A is also charged with calling the North Korean Consulate General in Shenyang, China, on the 18th of the same month (charges of fraternization and communication under the National Security Act). It was confirmed that he attempted to communicate with the consulate staff seven times over six days, including a call lasting about 12 seconds.

A, who lived with his mother in Ulsan, was known to have difficulty adapting to society and work life. Due to frequent job changes, he became estranged from family and acquaintances, and after developing an interest in North Korean society in 2018, he decided to defect to North Korea.

The court stated the sentencing reasons, saying, "He repeatedly attempted to escape to an area under the control of an anti-state organization and tried to communicate with its members. However, considering that the crime was only attempted and that he is a first-time offender, these factors were taken into account."