Jakarta, hitclubapk3 Indonesia
—
South Korea
confirmed that six of its citizens had been detained for years in
North Korea
on espionage charges and could face the death penalty.
In a statement on Thursday (4/12), South Korea’s presidential office said the six citizens were arrested in 2013 and 2016 on charges of espionage and other offences.
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Of the six South Korean citizens, four of them have been officially identified by Pyongyang.North Korea accused them of espionage, which can lead to harsh punishment, including the death penalty, in the authoritarian country.
“In the current situation, when inter-Korean dialogue and interaction has long been stalled, the suffering of our people due to division continues,” the South Korean statement said.
The announcement came after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung appeared unaware of the situation regarding the six citizens when receiving questions from international media.
“This is the first time I have heard of this,” said Lee regarding South Korean citizens detained in the North, on Wednesday (3/12), as quoted
AFP
.
Lee immediately asked the national security adviser, Wi Sung-lac, for help in responding to the statement at the press conference.
Wi said there were cases of South Koreans being unable to return after entering the North and “other unknown cases.”
Lee’s previous statement attracted attention and made headlines in local media with one headline in a conservative daily
Chosun Ilbo.
The media called Lee “knowing nothing,” due to Lee’s lack of awareness about the arrest.
“It is a symbolic illustration of how the issue of South Korean prisoners in North Korea is,” the daily wrote.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean relations, said on Thursday (4/12) that the last time it raised the issue with Pyongyang was in 2018.
According to the ministry, at the time, the North said that “relevant institutions within the country are reviewing the issue thoroughly.”
Since then, Pyongyang has not responded or taken any action.
Lee, who took office in June, has proposed talks with Pyongyang without preconditions.
This approach is a departure from the tough stance of his predecessor, who was removed from office following a disastrous declaration of martial law last year.
(rnp/rds)
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