Unification Spokesperson’s Statement on
the 10th year of missionary Kim Jung wook's detention in North Korea
-October 8, 2023-
□ October 8 marks the 10th year since a ROK national, missionary Kim
Jung wook was forcibly detained by the Kim Jong Un regime, along with
five other South Korean nationals, including Kim Kook Kie and Choi
Chun gil, who have been deprived of freedom and held against their will.
ㅇ North Korea sentenced the ROK nationals, who had been helping
North Koreans in need, to a severe punishment of "rodongkyohwa
(reformation through labor) for an indefinite period.”
ㅇ In addition, the North has not provided even minimal information
on confirming the life or death of our people detained in North Korea,
adding to the suffering of their families.
□ The ROK Government condemns these illegal and inhumane actions by
the North Korean authorities and strongly urges North Korea, a state
party to international covenants on human rights, to return our people
detained in the North to their families as soon as possible.
ㅇ If North Korea has any awareness on human rights issues, it should
no longer disregard such basic human rights issue.
□ On August 18, the leaders of the Republic of Korea, the United
States, and Japan adopted the joint statement which "reaffirms a
shared commitment to the immediate resolution of the issues of
abductees, detainees, and unrepatriated prisoners of war(POWs),"
and on September 8, the Ministry of Unification established the
Abductees Response Team under the Minister of Unification to resolve
the issues of detainees, abductees, and POWs.
ㅇ The ROKG will continue to work closely with the international
community to raise awareness at home and abroad, working with private
organizations including religious communities to actively engage in
confirming the life or death of detainees and repatriating them.
ㅇ Above all, we will make all-out efforts to relieve the unbearable
pain of the families. //The End//
