Refugee Hunter Arrested in South Korea for Spying

By M.E. Dodge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

SEOUL, South Korea – A South Korean man was recently arrested in Seoul, for allegedly ‘hunting’ North Korean refugees hiding in China and sending them back to North Korea. According to numerous news sources, Kim, the man identified as the refugee hunter, is also accused of spying on the South’s military and on people aiding refugees.

Map Map of South Korea. Image courtesy of BBC World News.

Kim, age 55, was recruited by North Korea during an illegal visit to China in the late 1990s. According to Yonhap news agency, he received espionage training in Pyongyang in 2000 before being sent to China as an agent to locate defectors. One news source reported that Kim went to Pyongyang not only for spy training, but also to get $10,000 and 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms) of narcotics from the North. 

Kim allegedly was involved in finding some of the tens of thousands of North Koreans believed to be in China after fleeing to escape hardship or persecution at home. Human rights activists claim that North Korean individuals captured in China and sent back face severe punishment or even execution.

An undisclosed number of South Korean activists and missionaries also secretly operate in China to smuggle North Koreans from their homeland and shelter and feed defectors before they take refuge in South Korea, the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. However, it is believed that almost 18,000 North Koreans have arrived in South Korea since the 1950-1953 war.

Kim was arrested after returning to North Korea on a flight from China. Officials commented that Kim’s case was being investigated to see whether he had any further accomplices engaged in spying. Seoul prosecution spokesman Oh Se-in made a statement to AP news agency that Kim had denied all charges brought against him. Oh went on to say that Kim was charged with violating South Korea’s National Security Law, which prohibits nationals from engaging in activities which could benefit Pyongyang or having unauthorized contact with North Koreans.

It is unclear what Kim’s sentence will be if convicted. His case could theoretically lead to a death sentence. The South’s anti-communist National Security Law bans citizens from contacting North Koreans without government approval and punishes activities benefiting the North. Any violation of the law is subject to a maximum penalty of death, although Seoul has imposed an unofficial moratorium on hangings since 1997.

For more information, please see:

The Washington PostProsecutors arrest SKorean for spying for NKorea – 12 April 2010

BBC World News – Seoul detains ‘North Korean refugee hunter’ – 12 April 2010

C NewsSouth Korean man accused of spying for North – 12 April 2010 

Author: Impunity Watch Archive