Synopsis
The South Korean unification ministry has demanded the immediate release of three missionaries detained in North Korea, following a UN report calling for their freedom. The case has drawn international attention.Key Takeaways
- South Korea's Ministry of Unification calls for release of missionaries.
- UN report highlights illegal detention by North Korea.
- Missionaries have been held since 2013-14.
- Government emphasizes international cooperation for resolution.
- Ministry focuses on inter-Korean relations and humanitarian support.
Seoul, March 14 (NationPress) The Ministry of Unification in South Korea has issued a call for the immediate and unconditional release of three South Korean missionaries currently detained in North Korea, following the recent adoption of a UN report advocating for their release.
This statement came just a day after the UN Human Rights Council's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention recognized the situation, urging North Korea to free the three South Korean Christian missionaries.
The detained individuals—Kim Jung-wook, Kim Kook-kie, and Choi Chun-gil—have been held since their apprehension between 2013 and 2014, facing charges of espionage for South Korea's intelligence agency.
According to the opinions released on Thursday, the UN Working Group determined that their arrest and detention represent an illegal and arbitrary infringement on their freedom, recommending their immediate release along with compensation and an independent investigation into their circumstances, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
"The opinions adopted by the UN working group have officially confirmed that the detention of these individuals was illegal and a clear violation of international law," stated Koo Byoung-sam, spokesperson for the unification ministry.
"The government reiterates its strong condemnation of North Korea's illegal actions and demands the immediate and unconditional release of our nationals," the statement emphasized.
The ministry also urged North Korea to take seriously the warnings provided by the UN's adoption of such opinions and called for immediate compliance.
The government is committed to working closely with other nations, the international community, and religious organizations to resolve this issue swiftly, it added.
Established in 1969, the South Korean Ministry of Unification (MOU) is tasked with promoting Korean reunification, managing inter-Korean relations, and overseeing North Korean defectors, including providing humanitarian assistance and support for their settlement.
The MOU serves as a governmental body responsible for all matters pertaining to inter-Korean relations, reflecting the ongoing division of the Korean peninsula since the conclusion of the Korean War in 1953. The ministry's key objectives include facilitating inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation, providing humanitarian aid, assisting North Korean defectors in settling in South Korea, and advocating for human rights.
