NK FOOTPRINTS 2.0

Mr. Kang Jung Sok, a South Korean minor, was allegedly abducted from Germany by North Korean authorities; his family has not heard from him since 1972. Mr. Ko Sang Moon, a South Korean teacher, was allegedly abducted from Norway around April of 1979. Mr. Kang and Mr. Ko were reportedly detained in 1990 at the Sungho Detention Centre, where political prisoners were held.

North Korea reported that Mr. Kang and Mr. Ko were not being detained at present; however, it did not specifically affirm whether they had been detained in the past. Although North Korea provided Mr. Kang’s address, it failed to provide Mr. Ko’s address. The WGAD decided to keep the pending case while awaiting further information.

North Korea reported that Mr. Kang and Mr. Ko had never been detained and provided Mr. Ko's present address. After examining the available information, the WGAD filed the case.

Mr. Choi Seong Jai was arrested at his home by agents of National Security Agency (NSA) in 2000 for stealing and concealing a border guard’s weapon, and committing treason against the state for crossing the border into China. He was held at the NSA facility for approximately six months. Reportedly, Mr. Choi was tortured beyond recognition in detention.

Ms. Hong Won Ok was arrested in 2002 and imprisoned in a political prison camp for treason. Reportedly, Ms. Hong had regularly and publicly complained about the living and political situation in North Korea, which is considered reactionary conduct. According to a source, her punishment was compounded because of her guilt by association with her husband.

Mr. Kim Seong Do and Mr. Lee Hak Cheol were arrested in May 2012 by an NSA agent for communicating with Mr. Lee’s father, Mr. Jeon Young Cheol, helping him film, and delivering a camera and money. Mr. Jeon was involved with a dissident group, established to destroy statues of Kim Il Sung. Kim Seoul Ill - Kim Seong Do’s brother - and Lee Gook Cheol were arrested based upon guilt by association with Kim Seong Do and Lee Hak Cheol. All four individuals were reportedly detained in a political prison camp on account of propaganda against the country, treason, and espionage.

Ms. Kim Mi Rae was arrested together along with her husband, younger sister, and son - Lee Jee Hun - en route to South Korea and detained, reportedly on account of treason against the state by defection. She was detained at the NSA detention facility and later transferred to the No. 16 political prison camp.

North Korea denied these alleged cases and did not provide any information about the current situation of the three individuals. The WGAD indicated that, under certain circumstances, widespread, or systemic imprisonment or other severe deprivation of liberty in violation of international law may constitute crimes against humanity. The WGAD found the detention of Choi Seong Jai, Hong Won Ok, Kim Seong Do, Kim Seong Il, Lee Hak Cheol, Lee Gook Cheol, Kim Mi Rae, and Lee Jee Hoon to be in violation of articles 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 19 and 20 of the UDHR, and articles 8, 9, 12 and 14, 18, 19 of the ICCPR and arbitrary falling within categories I, II and III. The WGAD requested that North Korea release them immediately and accord them an enforceable right to compensation.

Mi Sook Kang was arrested in Yanji by Chinese police officials and later detained because she attempted to seek asylum in China. Ho Seok Kim was also arrested by Chinese police officials while traversing the border between Mongolia and China to seek asylum in South Korea. They were both arrested without being presented with warrants and appropriate legal procedures. North Korea did not respond to the WGAD's request to provide more information on the three individuals. China responded that it did not have any information.

With regards to China, the WGAD found that the deprivation of liberty of Ms. Kang and Mr. Kim being in contravention of articles7, 9, and 14(1) of the UDHR are arbitrary and fall within categories I and II. With regard to North Korea, the WGAD found that the deprivation of liberty of Ms. Kang and Mr. Kim being in contravention of articles 7, 9, 10, 11 and 14 (1) of the UDHR and of articles 9 and 14 of the ICCPR, is arbitrary and falls within categories I and III.

The WGAD further referred the situation of Ms. Kang and Mr. Kim to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and requested the two Governments, China and North Korea, provide it with more information concerning Ms. Kang and Mr. Kim.

Kyeong-Hee Kang who resided in China was arrested in China on 25 August 2008 together with her teenage son and other defectors. Ms. Kang was reportedly sent to Yodok political prison camp, and her son was sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment in Gaecheon re-education camp. Seung Cheol Kim was arrested with 12 other defectors when he was attempting to enter Mongolia to seek asylum. Keum Nam Lee was arrested along with other defectors when she intended to seek asylum in South Korea and later was sent to Yodok political prison camp. Myung-Ju Lee was arrested in China and forcibly repatriated to North Korea. Ms. Lee was reportedly detained in City of Hoeryoung under the custody of the NSA for defecting from North Korea and reading the Bible. The source reports that Ms. Lee was seriously abused during the investigation and has suffered sustained injuries. Ms. Lee was later sent to political prison camp No. 16 in September 2015. All four individuals were arrested without any warrant being presented or legal procedure being followed.

The WGAD found the deprivation of liberty by the authorities of China of Kyeong-Hee Kang, Seung Cheol Kim, Keum Nam Lee and Myung-Ju Lee to be in contravention of articles 9, 10 and 11 of the UDHR, arbitrary falling within categories I, III and V.

The WGAD found that deprivation of liberty by the authorities of North Korea of Kyeong-Hee Kang, Seung Cheol Kim, Keum Nam Lee and Myung-Ju Lee to be in contravention of articles 9, 10, 11 and 13 of the UDHR and articles 9, 14 and 18 of the ICCPR, and arbitrary falling within categories I, II and III. The WGAD requested that North Korea release them immediately and accord her an enforceable right to compensation. The WGAD further requested North Korea and China to provide it with more information.

In March 2004, Hyang-sil Kwon was arrested by the Chinese Police without a warrant and was forcibly repatriated to North Korea. Following her repatriation, Ms. Kwon was sent to Hoeryong City Security Council in May 2004, where she was allowed to receive food but not visits from her family. On 31 August 2004, her family was informed that she had been transferred to North Hamgyong Province Security Agency. Ms. Kwon's family has not received any information about her fate and whereabouts since her transfer. It is believed that Ms. Kwon transferred to the Yodok political prison camp. North Korea did not respond to the allegations.

The WGAD held that the deprivation of liberty of Ms. Kwon is arbitrary, being in contravention of articles 9 and 10 of the UDHR and articles 9 and 14 of the ICCPR, and falls within categories I and III. The WGAD requested that North Korea release her immediately and accord her an enforceable right to compensation.

In May 2001, Il Joo was arrested by agents from the National Security Agency. It was reported that he was detained for receiving money from his sister, who had defected to South Korea, which constitutes espionage under North Korea's criminal law. Cheol Yong Kim was arrested for allegedly reading a magazine from ROK and meeting with a South Korean when he was in China, which falls under espionage. Eun Ho Kim was arrested by an NSA agent for watching a video from South Korea and criticizing the food-rationing system, which constitutes anti-state propaganda and agitation. Kwang Ho Kim was arrested for watching a South Korean video. Sang Min Yoon was arrested for allegedly telling a friend that he sold military equipment abroad, which constitutes espionage. According to the source, these individuals were arrested without being presented with an arrest warrant or a copy of another decision issued by a North Korean authority. In response to the WGAD's allegations, North Korea did not address the substance of the allegations.

The WGAD found the deprivation of liberty of Il Joo, Cheol Yong Kim, Eun Ho Kim, Kwang Ho Kim and Seong Min Yoon to be in contravention of articles 17 and 19 of the UDHR and articles 12 and 19 of the ICCPR, and arbitrary falling within categories I and II. The WGAD requested that North Korea release them immediately and accord them an enforceable right to compensation. The WGAD further request North Korea to provide it with more information.

Ms. Shin Sook Ja and her two daughters, Oh Hae Won and Oh Kyu Won, were allegedly detained in 1986 after Ms.Shin’s husband, Oh Kil Nam, requested political asylum in Denmark. Reportedly, in 1907, Ms. Shin and her daughters were sent to Yodok prison camp, where they are believed to have remained without any charges or trial, because Ms. Shin’s husband did not return to North Korea. North Korea denied that Ms. Shin and her daughters had ever been detained and the source could not give any details about the alleged detention in response.

The WGAD could not reach a conclusion as to whether Ms. Shin and her two daughters had been detained, and filed the case without an opinion.

Ms. Kang Mi-ho was allegedly taken with her eleven-year-old son, Kim Jeong-nam, to Yodok political prison camp around May 2011. They were detained because she had reportedly received money from her brother, who had defected to South Korea. Mr. Shin Kyung-seop was taken to Camp No. 14 along with his parents and two brothers by the National Security Agency in 1965 because of his brother’s defection during the Korean War. The entire family has spent more than forty years in Camp No. 14, where they have allegedly been subject to torture. North Korea denied these alleged cases and did not provide any information about the current situation of the three individuals.

The WGAD concerned about human rights violations in North Korea and indicated that, under certain circumstances, widespread or systemic imprisonment or other sever deprivation of liberty may constitute crimes against humanity. The WGAD found that the deprivation of liberty of Ms. Kang, Mr. Kim and Mr. Shin is arbitrary and in violation of article 9 and 10 of the UDHR and article 9 and 14 of the ICCPR and falls within categories I and III. Further, the WGAD requested North Korea to release Ms. Kang, Mr. Kim and Mr. Shin immediately and award them compensation.

Ms. Kim Im Bok was arrested in China and forcibly repatriated to North Korea in August 1994. Ms. Kim was considered a political prisoner for accepting help from a Korean church in Yanbian and transferred to a political prison camp. Ms. Kim’s family was informed that Ms. Kim had been sent to a political prison camp, presumably Camp No. 15, but they could not find her name on any of the prison registries.

suicide while detained at a forced labor logging camp. According to a source, as a result of his suicide, which was considered an act of treason against the country, Ms. Kim’s son-Ann Jung Chul - and daughter - Ann Soon Hee - were imprisoned in political prison camp No. 15 or 16.

Mr. Kwon Young Guen was arrested by the Yanji police in China in May 1966 and forcibly repatriated to North Korea. Mr. Kwon was detained at the Chilsung House, where he was inhumanely treated as a form of exemplary punishment. He was tied to a truck and dragged barefoot for approximately 16 kilometers and was tortured into confessing. Mr. Kwon was later detained at the National Security Agency prison in South Hamkyung and transferred to the Hamheung National Security Agency in 1994.

North Korea denied these alleged case. The WGAD found that the detention of Kim Im Bok, Kim Bok Shil, Ann Gyung Shin, Ann Jung Chul, Ann Soon Hee, and Kwon Young Guen is arbitrary and in violation of articles 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 19 and 20 of the UDHR, and Articles 8, 9, 12, 14, 18 and 19 of the ICCPR and falls within categories I, II and III. The WGAD requested that North Korea release Ms. Shin and her two daughters and accord them an enforceable right to compensation.

Ms. Shin Sook Ja and her two daughters, Oh Hae Won and Oh Kyu Won, were imprisoned in Yodok political prison camp in November 1987 solely because Ms. Shin’s husband defected to Denmark and did not return to North Korea. Ms. Shin and her two daughters were subsequently sent to a camp near Pyongyang. In response to the WGAD’s request to verify the whereabouts of Ms. Shin and her daughters, North Korea reported that Ms. Shin died and that her two daughters are still alive; however, North Korea did not provide detailed information.

The WGAD found the continued detention of Ms. Shin and her daughters to be arbitrary in contravention of Article 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the UDHR, and articles 9 and 14 of the ICCPR, and falling within categories I and III. The WGAD requested that North Korea release Ms. Shin and her two daughters and accord them an enforceable right to compensation.

Mr. Choi Sang Soo, a prisoner of war from South Korea, and his son escaped to China in July 1999, but were arrested by agents from the National Security Agency on 18 September 1999. They were forcibly repatriated to North Korea and sent to the Hoiryeong National Security Agency, where they were subjected to severe physical abuse. They were later transferred to Camp No. 25.

Ms. Kim Hyeon Sun and her son, Kim Gyeong Il, were arrested by agents from the National Security Agency in January 2011 At the Tumen riverside while attempting to cross the border into China. They were sent to the NSA facilities for purposes of interrogation and transferred to Camp No. 25 in September 2011.

Ms. Park Sung Ok, who defected to China, was arrested with other defectors by the border garrison of the Chinese police and forcibly repatriated to North Korea in 2007. Later, she was sentenced to three years imprisonment in Camp No. 25. The source reports that there was no official communication from the NSA to the families of Mr. Choi, Ms. Kim, and Ms. Park about their fates and whereabouts, and that they were not provided a legal basis for their detentions.

The WGAD found that the detention of Choi Sang Soo, Choi Seong II, Kim Hyeon Sun, Kim Gyeong II and Park Sung Ok is arbitrary and in violation of articles 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 19 and 20 of the UDHR and articles 8, 9, 12 and 14, 18, 19 of the ICCPR and falls within categories I, II and III. The WGAD requested North Korea to immediately release them and accord them an enforceable right to compensation.

Ms. Eun Sil Kang, a foreign currency broker, and her family members were arrested in April 2012, without knowledge of why and where they were being taken. In May 2014, Ms. Kang was rearrested by the agent of the State Security Department of Ryanggang Province and reportedly imprisoned in a prison camp although she had received no charges against her, no trial and no sentence. Ms. Kang’s family members were not notified of the reason for her arrest. North Korea reported that the case had no relevance to North Korea.

The WGAD found the deprivation of liberty of Ms. Kang, being in contravention of articles 3, 6, 8, 9 and 10 of the UDHR and articles 2 (3), 9, 14 and 16 of the ICCPR, and is arbitrary and falls within the category I. The WGAD requested that North Korea release Ms. Kang immediately and accord her an enforceable right to compensation. The WGAD further requested North Korea to provide it with more information.

Mr. Lee Hak Su was arrested on 23 January 2009 by the military of North Korea without a warrant being presented and transferred to the office of the Security Bureau for investigation. Mr. Lee, his family, and his lawyers have not been informed of the reason for the deprivation of his liberty. A source reports that his activity - doing business with China - was assumed to be an act of espionage. Subsequently, Mr. Lee was transferred to Yodok prison camp, where he is believed to remain. North Korea reported that the case had no relevance to North Korea.

The WGAD found that the deprivation of liberty of Mr. Lee to be in contravention of articles 3, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the UDHR and articles 2 (3), 9, 14 and 16 of the ICCPR and arbitrary, falling within category I. The WGAD requested North Korea to release Mr. Lee immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation.

Hwang Won was abducted when Korean Air Lines YS-11 was hijacked and taken to North Korea by a North Korean agent on 11 December 1969, and was one of the 11 of 50 South Koreans who were not returned on 14 February 1970. He was taken away and tortured during his initial captivity for singing a South Korean song "I want to go [home]" on lunar New Year's Day. In the recent years, he has been residing near Sariwon, 100 kilometres south of Pyongyang under house arrest.

The WGAD found Hwang Won's deprivation of liberty to be in contravention of articles 9 and 19 of the UDHR and articles 9 and 19 of the ICCPR, and arbitrary falling within categories I and II. The WGAD requested North Korea to release Mr. Hwang Won immediately, award him compensation, conduct a full and independent investigation and take appropriate measures against those responsible.

Mr. Song Hyeok Kim was arrested without a warrant by agent from the National Security Agency or promoting Christianity in North Korea. Mr. Kim's his confession was allegedly falsified, and he was subsequently accused of being trained by the South Korean intelligence agency. He was tried in secret without legal representation and sentenced to ten years of imprisonment. Since 2002, He has been held incommunicado and has not been allowed to have any family visit. North Korea reported that Mr. Kim does not exist in North Korea.

The WGAD found that the deprivation of liberty of Mr. Kim is arbitrary, being in contravention of articles 10 and 18 of the UDHR and articles 14 and 18 of the ICCPR, and falls within categories I, II, III and V. The WGAD requests that North Korea release Mr. Kim and accord him an enforceable right to compensation.

allegedly forcibly drafted in July 1950 from ROK by DPRK Army

allegedly abducted in Changbai County, China, in April 2003, by DPRK National Security Agency officers

allegedly arrested on the streets in Pyongyang by agents of the National Security Agency on 4 July 1970

A girl below 18 years of age, allegedly arrested by DPRK National Security Agency officers on 17 February 2011

allegedly abducted from Hamyong Province in 2000 by DPRK forces

allegedly abducted on 28 December 1972 by DPRK forces, when the fishing boat on which they were working, the "Odaeyang 61-ho", was reportedly captured

an ROK national, allegedly abducted on 4 February 1972 by DPRK armed patrol boats in the Yellow Sea

allegedly arrested at his house by agents of the National Security Agency, on 15 November 1977, and allegedly last seen on 25 May 1981 in “Camp 18”, before being transferred to an unknown location

allegedly abducted on 14 July 1950, by policemen from the North Korean regime

an ROK national, allegedly abducted by DPRK soldiers while fishing on the “Changmyeong” boat, on 2 July 1968

allegedly abducted in August 1950 by members of the Korean People's Army, from Chungwon Primary School, Seoul, ROK