[ad_1]
The South Korean presidential office has promised to investigate the case on Sunday, accusing the return of two North Korean fishermen in 2019 as a “crime against humanity” by the previous administration.
“The office of President Yun Suk-yul is [previous government’s] We will act inhumanely and take all steps to prevent recurrence. ” statement.
The statement was made after the Ministry of Unification, which oversees relations with North Korea, released photos of two North Koreans being forcibly withdrawn beyond the inter-Korean summit (Yonhap News Agency). report.
Yun’s office has accused the old government of ignoring domestic law and the right to a fair trial that recognizes North Koreans as Korean citizens. Deportation also violated international law prohibiting the deportation of refugees.
“The essence of this investigation is to determine if the processes and decisions of the previous administration were based on the Constitution and national interests,” he said.
Two fishermen admitted that they fled to South Korea in 2019 and boarded a ship to kill 16 other men. They expressed their desire to escape, but the Moon Jae-in government at the time rejected their request as “dishonest.”
Lack of investigation
Former Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong denied allegations that fishermen had been deported at the request of North Korea and claimed that they had been repatriated for being “grotesque murderers” who pose a danger to South Koreans.
“Our domestic law stipulates that non-political criminals like them should not be allowed to be deported to the country. Serious non-political criminals are also under international law. It is not considered a refugee below. “
However, Chief Cabinet Secretary Choi Young-Bam said it was unreasonable for Mr. Chung to characterize the two North Koreans as grotesque murderers due to lack of investigation into the case.
Hee-seop Choi also criticized the previous administration’s allegations that the two North Korean defectors’ intentions were not justified, YNA reported.
“Why did they ignore the letter intended to curse what these people wrote themselves? The point in this case is that North Korean fishermen must be dealt with in accordance with our law. It means that he was sent back to the field of death at that time, “he said.
Some critics alleged that former President Moon Jae-in ordered their repatriation to appease the North Korean government, following his administration’s efforts to resume peace talks with nuclear-armed nations. ..
Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch, based in the United States, Twitter post That month, “he was embarrassed to ignore the basic principles of human rights and humanity because he was desperate to please Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s supreme leader.”
The Yun administration is also investigating the murder of South Korean fisheries officials near the Saikai border in 2020.
follow
Aldgra Fredly is a Malaysia-based freelance writer featuring the Epoch Times Asia Pacific News.
[ad_2]