The U.N. has declared the detention of South Korean missionaries in North Korea as arbitrary and a breach of international law, calling for their immediate release. This follows a petition by the families of the missionaries, with South Korea condemning North Korea’s actions and expressing intent to work with international allies to address the situation.
The United Nations has declared the prolonged detention of South Korean missionaries in North Korea as “arbitrary” and has called for their immediate release. This determination was made by the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) under the U.N. Human Rights Council, which stated that the imprisonment of Kim Jung-wook, Kim Kook-kie, and Choi Chun-gil violates international law.
The WGAD report asserts that the missionaries were deprived of their liberty due to discrimination against them as foreign nationals engaged in religious and humanitarian work. It recommends that all three missionaries be released immediately, and they should receive compensation and other reparations according to international law.
This decision follows a petition submitted by the families of the detained missionaries last July, questioning the legality of their ongoing imprisonment. North Korea’s claim, presented to the WGAD in August, stated that the petition was politically motivated and did not violate international law; however, this assertion was dismissed by the U.N. panel.
In reaction to the U.N. findings, South Korea’s Ministry of Unification condemned North Korea’s actions as a “blatant violation of international law.” Deputy spokesperson Kim In-ae highlighted that the international community recognizes the illegality of the detention and urged for the immediate unconditional release of the citizens.
The South Korean government is committed to collaborating with international allies, particularly the U.S. and the U.K., to expedite the resolution of this issue. The missionaries, involved in humanitarian efforts for North Korean defectors, were arrested at various times between 2013 and 2014. Kim Jung-wook received a life sentence in 2014, with similar sentences handed to his fellow missionaries in 2015. Despite the ongoing focus on these cases, the WGAD did not review cases involving other North Korean defectors who became South Korean citizens due to a lack of petitions.
In summary, the U.N.’s classification of the detention of South Korean missionaries in North Korea as “arbitrary” emphasizes the violation of international law inherent in their imprisonment. The South Korean government condemned these actions and seeks collaboration with international partners to resolve the matter. The urgent call for the missionaries’ release reflects a growing consensus on the need for adherence to international legal principles regarding human rights and humanitarian work.
Original Source: www.koreatimes.co.kr
