A/HRC/WGAD/2019/69 deprived of his liberty and placed under house arrest, without any justification provided by the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. 50. In that regard, the Working Group would like to emphasize that the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have failed to invoke a legal basis for the arrest and continuous detention of Mr. Hwang Won since 1969, in violation of article 9 (1) of the Covenant. 51. The Working Group received credible information, which was not disputed by the Government, that Mr. Hwang Won had exercised his right to freedom of thought and freedom of expression by openly expressing his personal conviction against communist ideology. The Working Group is convinced that Mr. Hwang Won was taken away by soldiers for singing a South Korean song, “I want to go [home]”, which clearly expressed his desire to leave the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and to return to the Republic of Korea, along with other individuals. In the opinion of the source, the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea responded to his expression and exercise of the right to freedom of movement by holding him indefinitely. 52. The Working Group therefore considers that the continued detention of Mr. Hwang Won by the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a result of his exercise of his rights of freedom of thought and expression. It concludes that being in contravention of article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 19 of the Covenant, the detention of Mr. Hwang Won is arbitrary and falling within category II. 53. The Working Group is concerned that there has been no information on Mr. Hwang Won provided by the authorities. In the light of this and in accordance with paragraph 33 (a) of its methods of work, the Working Group refers the present case to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, for appropriate action. Disposition 54. In the light of the foregoing, the Working Group renders the following opinion: The deprivation of liberty of Hwang Won, being in contravention of articles 9 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and articles 9 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is arbitrary and falls within categories I and II. 55. The Working Group requests the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to take the steps necessary to remedy the situation of Mr. Hwang Won without delay and bring it into conformity with the relevant international norms, including those set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 56. The Working Group considers that, taking into account all the circumstances of the case, the appropriate remedy would be to release Mr. Hwang Won immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law. 57. The Working Group urges the Government to ensure a full and independent investigation of the circumstances surrounding the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Mr. Hwang Won and to take appropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of his rights. 58. In accordance with paragraph 33 (a) of its methods of work, the Working Group refers the present case to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, for appropriate action 59. The Working Group requests the Government to disseminate the present opinion through all available means and as widely as possible. Follow-up procedure 60. In accordance with paragraph 20 of its methods of work, the Working Group requests the source and the Government to provide it with information on action taken in follow-up to the recommendations made in the present opinion, including: 7