Seoul returns six northern Koreans who accidentally drifted south

South Korea returned six northern Koreans who accidentally turned into South Korea’s waters earlier this year. All six have consistently expressed their desire to return, according to the Ministry of the Association Seoul.

Two North Koreans moved to the southern waters in March and stayed four months – the longest period, fixed for non -defectors.

The other four are sailors who failed through the controversial maritime border between the north and south in May.

This is the first such return according to the presidency Lee Jae-Mun South Koreawhich campaigned by improving inter-korea ties. Both countries unsuccessfully tried to coordinate the profitability for months.

There were several preliminary cases of the Northern Koreans who unintentionally swim south. They often use small wooden boats that cannot be easily directed to your course after refused.

In the past, the authorities in two countries are coordinated to send those who wished to return north through their land.

However, in April 2023, Pyongyang disabled all the lines of the interpar between the tension.

In eight months North Korean leader Kim Jong UN said this Combining with the south is already impossible.

The only well-known communication channels that remain are the United Nations Command commanded by the United States and through the media.

The Ministry of the Association Seoula said she tried to report twice from the intention to send these six people home through the UN team but did not receive an answer.

North Korean patrol courts and fishing boats were spotted at the transfer point on Wednesday morning, which made some observers believe that two Kores would agree to the background plan “behind the scenes”.

“If you install a broad ocean boat without any coordination, there is a real risk that it can go back again,” says the Sun-wolf, former head of the Korea National Strategy.

It is believed that six people will be interrogated for a long time when they return to the north.

“They will be fried on whether they received any espional workouts or over -sensitive.

Once the investigation is over, they may be asked to help spread the propaganda. Their desire to return to the north “strengthens the legitimacy of the regime (kim),” adds Lim El-Chul, a professor who specializes in North Korea’s studies at the University of Kungn.

Michael Medden, an expert of North Korea from the Center of Stimson in Washington, noted that boats drifted south when South Korea was headed by temporary presidents after former former Impeachment of President Jono Suka Yeola.

“This may have detained a certain decision -making in both Korea.

“Pyongyang certainly did not trust the remains of Yoon in South Korea, and both Korea could be open for charges of illegal repatriation with political expediency on the part of the international community,” he said.

Repatriation on Wednesday left some North Korean recesses embarrassed.

Lee Mi-side activist says six people “had to give the opportunity to talk to the retrieuses and learn more about South Korean society.”

“If I had the opportunity to talk to them, I would tell them the truth (about the inter-Porean history) and warned them that they may eventually face punishment from the North Korean regime, simply because they had already survived their lives in the south,” says Mr. Lee, who had previously swimed with anti-kima balloons.

However, his team of activists has largely ceased its activity as they are expecting repression from the new one, the South Korean administration.

The Seoul National Assembly is currently discussing the ban Such a balloon launches.

Li Jay-Min, who was elected President of South Korea in June, pledged to restart the dialogue with Pyongyang and reduce tensions between the two countries.

A week after he took over, South Korea’s military stopped their loudspeakers Across the border to North Korea, it called the transfer to “restore confidence in intergrient relations and reach peace in the Korean Peninsula.”

Some analysts, however, do not expect a serious improvement in connections between Korea.

North Korea “created firm cooperation” with Russia, and now “little needs” to attract south, says Selest Arrington, director of the Korean Studies Institute George Washington.

Public opinion in the south also suggests little appetite for interaction from the north, she says.

“So there are several signals, if any, unambiguous communication lines between the north and south, not to mention a significant warming of the relationship.”