Missionary Kim Jeong-uk, Detained in North Korea for 4000 Days Today
Minister of Unification Issues Statement Urging North Korea to Release Him
"Must Recognize Seriousness and Heed International Community's Warning"
Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho issued a statement urging the Kim Jong-un regime for the "unconditional release" of missionary Kim Jung-wook, marking 4,000 days of his detention in North Korea.
In a statement released through a spokesperson on the morning of the 20th, Minister Kim said, "Today marks the 4,000th day since our citizen, missionary Kim Jung-wook, was forcibly detained and imprisoned by the Kim Jong-un regime," adding, "This October marks the 10th year since missionary Kim Guk-gi was forcibly detained in North Korea, and December marks the 10th year for missionary Choi Chun-gil."
He pointed out, "Six of our citizens, including missionaries Kim Jung-wook, Kim Guk-gi, and Choi Chun-gil, have been deprived of their freedom against their will and have been illegally detained and imprisoned for a long time," and "our citizens who were helping North Korean defectors in difficult situations in China were sentenced to severe punishments called 're-education through labor with indefinite terms,'" he noted. Then, "the North Korean regime has not even provided the minimum information such as confirmation of life or death regarding our citizens who have been illegally detained and imprisoned, and as a result, the suffering of the detainees' families is increasing over time," he criticized.
Minister Kim emphasized, "The government condemns these illegal and inhumane acts by North Korea and strongly urges North Korea, which is also a party to international human rights treaties, to immediately and unconditionally release our citizens who are being illegally detained and imprisoned."
He particularly stressed, "We strongly condemn North Korea's actions of imposing unreasonable and excessive sentences without a fair, public, and just trial by a court, failing to provide even minimal procedural protections during detention, and continuing arbitrary detention to this day."
Koo Byung-sam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, is delivering a statement from the Minister of Unification on the occasion of the 4,000th day of missionary Kim Jung-wook's detention during a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 20th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Minister Kim Young-ho stated that the issue of illegal detention and arbitrary imprisonment by North Korea is not limited to South Korean citizens but is a violation of universally enjoyed human rights, and that the international community is paying attention to the issue of the six South Korean citizens detained in North Korea. He added, "North Korea must never ignore the legitimate demands for the lives and safety of our citizens," and warned, "It must clearly recognize the seriousness of the matter and take the international community's strong warnings regarding violations of international human rights norms seriously."
He also pointed out that last August, the leaders of South Korea, the United States, and Japan declared a joint effort to resolve the issues of abductees, detainees, and prisoners of war at Camp David, and that the Ministry of Unification has been making various efforts through the newly established "Abductee Countermeasures Team" directly under the minister.
Minister Kim said, "The government prioritizes the protection of its citizens and will continue to cooperate with the international community to clearly convey to North Korea our determination for confirming the life status of detainees, communication with their families, and immediate repatriation, and will do its utmost to resolve the issue promptly."
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