Title: South Korea Urges North Korea to Release Detained Citizens
South Korea’s government has issued a stern statement condemning North Korea’s detention of its citizens and has called for the immediate release of six South Korean nationals held by the North. The statement, released on September 20, marks the 4,000th day of detention for missionary Kim Jung-wook, who was forcibly detained by North Korea in 2013.
The statement, issued in the name of Unification Minister Kim Yeong-ho, criticized the North’s illegal detention of Kim Jung-wook, Kim Kwang-ki, Choi Chun-geol, and three other defectors who have acquired South Korean citizenship. The South Korean government strongly condemned the North’s violation of human rights and called for an immediate and unconditional release of the detained citizens.
Minister Kim highlighted the international community’s concern over the fate of the six South Korean citizens, urging North Korea to recognize the severity of the issue and the strong warnings from the international community regarding its violation of international human rights standards.
The statement emphasized that the North Korean government had unjustly punished the South Korean citizens without due process, failing to provide them with basic procedural protections during their detention. It also highlighted the arbitrary nature of the detentions, which have continued unabated.
Kim Jung-wook was arrested by North Korea on October 8, 2013, while conducting missionary activities in Dandong, China. He was later sentenced to life labor reform on charges of attempting to overthrow the state and inciting others to do so. Kim Kwang-ki and Choi Chun-geol were detained by North Korea in October and December 2014, respectively, and were later sentenced to the same punishment in June 2015. The three defectors, who had acquired South Korean citizenship, were detained by North Korea in 2016. The whereabouts and well-being of these six individuals remain unknown.
The South Korean government’s call for the release of its citizens comes amid growing international concern over North Korea’s human rights record. The United Nations and other international organizations have repeatedly condemned North Korea’s systematic and widespread human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention, torture, and forced labor.
The statement by the South Korean government is a significant development in the ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two Koreas. The North’s detention of South Korean citizens has been a contentious issue in inter-Korean relations, with the South repeatedly calling for their release.
The South Korean government’s statement also highlights the broader human rights concerns in the region, with North Korea’s human rights record coming under increased scrutiny from the international community. The statement underscores the need for North Korea to address these concerns and to comply with international human rights standards.
In conclusion, the South Korean government’s statement condemning North Korea’s detention of its citizens and calling for their immediate release is a significant development in the ongoing tensions between the two Koreas. The statement highlights the international community’s concern over North Korea’s human rights record and underscores the need for North Korea to address these concerns and comply with international human rights standards. The fate of the six South Korean citizens remains uncertain, but the South Korean government’s call for their release is a positive step towards resolving this long-standing issue.
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