Korea: Find Out Fate of 22 N.Koreans, says NHRCK

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRCK) has urged the Unification Ministry to set up an official channel to find out what happened to 22 North Koreans who were repatriated by the South Korean government in February this year.

The 22 people drifted into South Korean waters in rubber dinghies near Yeonpyeong Island in the West Sea in February.

There are rumors that they were executed after South Korea repatriated them and might have been seeking to defect to the South.

The NHRCK’s call follows a petition by several civic groups working on human rights issues in North Korea to prevent such from happening again.

The National Intelligence Service and the Unification Ministry at the time said the 22 people crossed the border and drifted into the South Korean waters.

In individual interview with each person, the authorities said all 22 had expressed their wish to return to the North, so they were repatriated to the North through Panmunjeom truce village. The government tried to bury the incident, but it was made public by the Chosun Ilbo in February.

Authorities here triggered speculation when they made no formal confirmation of their repatriation. According to the Navy and the NIS, the 22 were found drifting on 8 Februay after catching crabs and oysters off Hwanghaedo Province, North Korea.

Some media reported afterwards that they were executed upon return, citing sources familiar with North Korean affairs.

Date: 22 August 2008

Source: Digital Chosunilbo