Since October 2013, six South Korean citizens have been trapped in North Korea, facing torture and forced labor in prisons. Meanwhile, three inter-Korean summits have been held, where South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un discussed peace on the Korean Peninsula. There was no mention of a prompt release of the South Koreans.
In a North Korean prison, these six South Koreans – Jung-wook Kim, Kuk-gi Kim, Chun-kil Choi, Won-ho Kim, Hyun-chul Ko, and Jin-woo Ham (the latter three of which are North Korean defectors) – are being held. As missionaries, they helped hungry North Koreans by operating shelters and noodle factories in the border region between North Korea and China. The North Korean regime illegally arrested them for the crime of espionage and subversion of the regime. They were sentenced to life imprisonment and forced labor, the earliest detainee having been held for eight years.
North Korea has severely violated the sovereignty of South Korea and the dignity of the South Korean people. Nevertheless, the South Korean government has failed to rescue the six citizens who have been unfairly imprisoned. The South Korean President, Moon Jae-in, a human rights attorney, prioritized inter-Korean summits over the release of these citizens. While President Moon met with Kim Jong Un several times, he never mentioned the release of the detained South Koreans, making his slogan, “People come first,” seem meaningless. South Korea must do everything to rescue its people as soon as possible.
South Korea can refer to the release of three U.S. citizens, who were also unjustly detained, for the rescue of its citizens. The White House put the liberation of Americans as top priority for engaging with North Korea. As a result, it freed the three detainees prior to the U.S.–North Korea summit in June 2018 after persistent negotiations by the U.S. government. Then President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed these three detainees personally when they finally landed at Joint Base Andrews. Then Vice President Mike Pence, Second Lady Karen Pence, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were also present.
Likewise, with the support of the international community and its allies, the South Korean government must also prioritize the release of its prisoners from North Korea. South Korea should use a naming and shaming strategy to inform the international community of North Korea’s severe violation of sovereignty and human rights. By raising the issue as often as possible and working with the international community, the South Korean government can apply pressure on North Korea, without the use of physical force. It will indicate that South Korea is open to dialogue for the prompt release of its citizens. This strategy will signal that despite North Korea’s illegal provocations, the South Korean government adheres to international norms.
South Korea needs to get the world’s attention by putting North Korea’s illegal detentions on the agenda at international conferences. The South Korean government should make North Korea accountable for the illegal detentions as well as the poor treatment of its own citizens. It should not abstain anymore but instead approve the North Korean human rights resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly. This naming and shaming strategy will shine a bright light on North Korea’s human rights violations.
The more South Korea appeals to the international community, the more it can garner support from other nations. For example, in February 2021, Canada launched an initiative against the arbitrary detention of foreign citizens, with the support of more than 60 countries, including the United States and the European Union. These states have an active will to oppose detention, including that of the South Koreans. Therefore, if South Korea cooperates with them and raises the issue of North Korean illegal detention, many countries will advocate for and support the release of the six detainees.
Undeniably North Korea continues to be unresponsive to many issues, despite actions taken by the international community. The South Korean government is concerned that North Korea will leverage the return of these prisoners for political concessions. However, North Korea’s unresponsiveness is due to the lukewarm attitude of the South Korean government to human rights issues. If South Korea, in cooperation with the international community, applies ardent pressure on North Korea, the latter will have no choice but to release the detainees.
It has been eight long years. These prisoners are someone’s precious family members and friends. The South Korean government must abandon its passive attitude and work with its allies in the international community who value freedom and human rights, persisting until its people return to their families. The return of these six South Koreans will serve as a ray of light in the darkness for all those who are still oppressed around the world.
