Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


South Korea Deports North Koreans, Says They Killed 16 Co-Workers

Associated Press

   SEOUL - South Korea deported two North Koreans on Thursday after
   finding they had killed 16 fellow fishermen on a boat and fled to South
   Korea across the sea border over the weekend.

   The two North Koreans, both men in their 20s, were found aboard a boat
   south of the eastern sea border last Saturday, according to Seoul's
   Unification Ministry. It said a South Korean investigation later found
   the two had killed 16 colleagues aboard a fishing boat and escaped to
   South Korea.

   Details of the alleged onboard killings weren't immediately known.

   South Korea has a policy of accepting North Koreans who wants to
   resettle in the South to avoid political oppressions and economic
   poverty at home. But a Seoul Unification Ministry spokesman, Lee
   Sang-min, said South Korea has decided to send the two fishermen back
   to North Korea because they allegedly committed "grave" crimes and
   couldn't be protected by the South Korean government.

   Lee said South Korea expelled the men to North Korea via an
   inter-Korean border village on Thursday. He said Seoul on Tuesday had
   informed Pyongyang of their planned deportations and that North Korea
   on Wednesday responded it would accept them.

   Lee said Seoul has determined the two's acceptance to the South Korean
   society would threaten its own public safety.