UN working group demands North Korea immediately release detained missionaries



News UN working group demands North Korea immediately release detained missionaries Human rights experts conclude DPRK’s detention of three South Koreans for nearly 11 years violates international law Joon Ha Park March 14, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Imprisoned South Korean missionaries Kim Kook-kie, Kim Jung-wook and Choi Chun-gil (from left to right) \| Image: ROK Ministry of Unification A U.N. working group has concluded that North Korea’s imprisonment of three South Korean missionaries constitutes “arbitrary detention” without clear standards, demanding their immediate release after nearly 11 years, according to Seoul. In a statement released Friday, South Korea’s unification ministry announced that the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD), based in Geneva, adopted the stance on March 13 regarding missionaries Kim Jung-wook, Kim Kook-kie and Choi Chun-gil. A U.N. working group has concluded that North Korea’s imprisonment of three South Korean missionaries constitutes “arbitrary detention” without clear standards, demanding their immediate release after nearly 11 years, according to Seoul. In a statement released Friday, South Korea’s unification ministry announced that the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD), based in Geneva, adopted the stance on March 13 regarding missionaries Kim Jung-wook, Kim Kook-kie and Choi Chun-gil. Try unlimited access Only $1 for four weeks Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts. Subscribe now All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by And how should we address you in correspondence? One more step! Please check your inbox, for an email we just sent you, and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily News Update. Trending

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UN working group demands North Korea immediately release detained missionaries

Human rights experts conclude DPRK’s detention of three South Koreans for nearly 11 years violates international law

Joon Ha Park March 14, 2025

UN working group demands North Korea immediately release detained missionaries

Imprisoned South Korean missionaries Kim Kook-kie, Kim Jung-wook and Choi Chun-gil (from left to right) | Image: ROK Ministry of Unification

A U.N. working group has concluded that North Korea’s imprisonment of three South Korean missionaries constitutes “arbitrary detention” without clear standards, demanding their immediate release after nearly 11 years, according to Seoul.

In a statement released Friday, South Korea’s unification ministry announced that the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD), based in Geneva, adopted the stance on March 13 regarding missionaries Kim Jung-wook, Kim Kook-kie and Choi Chun-gil.

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UN working group demands North Korea immediately release detained missionaries

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