This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/12/world/asia/north-korea-returns-a-defector-to-the-south.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
North Korea Returns a Defector to the South North Korea Returns a Defector to the South
(about 5 hours later)
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea returned on Thursday a South Korean man who had defected to the North, in the first such repatriation since October. SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea returned a South Korean man on Thursday who had defected to the North, in the first such repatriation since October.
The 52-year-old man, identified as Kim Sang-geun by the North, was handed over to the South Korean authorities at Panmunjom, a village that straddles the border between the Koreas.The 52-year-old man, identified as Kim Sang-geun by the North, was handed over to the South Korean authorities at Panmunjom, a village that straddles the border between the Koreas.
North Korea said last week that it would send Mr. Kim back to the South, saying that he entered the North through an unidentified third country to escape his economic difficulties in the capitalist South. It said Mr. Kim asked for help in bringing his family from the South so they could live in the North together. But North Korea said it instead persuaded him to return home to the South. North Korea said last week that it would send Mr. Kim back to the South, saying he entered the North through an unidentified third country to escape his economic difficulties in the capitalist South. It said Mr. Kim asked for help in bringing his family from the South so they could live in the North together. But North Korea said it instead persuaded him to return home.
Back in the South, Mr. Kim will most likely face criminal charges of violating the National Security Law, which bans South Koreans from visiting the North without government permission. Back in the South, Mr. Kim will probably face criminal charges of violating the National Security Law, which bans South Koreans from visiting the North without government permission.
Over the past two decades, 27,000 North Koreans have defected to the South, fleeing hunger and political repression in their homeland. But South Koreans have also fled to the North on occasion, defecting through North Korean diplomatic missions abroad or making their way across the border, often to escape legal, financial or marital troubles. In 2009, a South Korean civilian sneaked through the heavily armed border to defect. Last year, South Korean soldiers shot and killed a man trying to cross a river into the North.Over the past two decades, 27,000 North Koreans have defected to the South, fleeing hunger and political repression in their homeland. But South Koreans have also fled to the North on occasion, defecting through North Korean diplomatic missions abroad or making their way across the border, often to escape legal, financial or marital troubles. In 2009, a South Korean civilian sneaked through the heavily armed border to defect. Last year, South Korean soldiers shot and killed a man trying to cross a river into the North.
North Korea occasionally uses defectors and detainees for propaganda. In May, the North sentenced a South Korean missionary to hard labor for life. It is also holding three Americans, including one missionary and two who visited the country on tourist visas, on charges of committing hostile acts against the North Korean government.North Korea occasionally uses defectors and detainees for propaganda. In May, the North sentenced a South Korean missionary to hard labor for life. It is also holding three Americans, including one missionary and two who visited the country on tourist visas, on charges of committing hostile acts against the North Korean government.
Repatriation of defectors from the North is not unprecedented. In October of last year, Pyongyang said that it “leniently pardoned” and sent back six South Korean men who had been held in the North on charges of illegal entry, as well as the remains of a South Korean woman who it said was killed by her husband, one of the six men, during a quarrel. Repatriation of defectors from the North is not unprecedented. In October of last year, Pyongyang said it had “leniently pardoned” and sent back six South Korean men who had been held in the North on charges of illegal entry, as well as the remains of a South Korean woman who it said was killed by her husband, one of the six men, during a quarrel.
South Korea charged the six men with breaking the National Security Law. In January, the man who was accused of killing his wife while in the North was sentenced to 10 years in prison.South Korea charged the six men with breaking the National Security Law. In January, the man who was accused of killing his wife while in the North was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Another of the six received a suspended prison sentence. The man told the court that he had defected to the North in 2011 hoping for a better life after being homeless in the South. But he said he deeply regretted his decision because he was held in solitary confinement and was even tortured by the North Korean authorities.Another of the six received a suspended prison sentence. The man told the court that he had defected to the North in 2011 hoping for a better life after being homeless in the South. But he said he deeply regretted his decision because he was held in solitary confinement and was even tortured by the North Korean authorities.