Two North Korean fishermen who ‘accidentally defected’ to South Korea have now spent more time in limbo than any other reluctant defectors in the history of the two nations.
Two North Korean fishermen who ‘accidentally defected‘ to South Korea have now spent more time in limbo than any other reluctant defectors in the history of the two nations. The two men were picked up by a South Korean naval patrol on March 7 in the Yellow Sea due to weather conditions, and their boat accidentally drifted over the Northern Limit Line (NLL) close to Eocheong Island.
A Rare Case of Refusal to Repatriate
Despite both men repeatedly expressing their desire to return to North Korea during questioning by South Korean military and intelligence agencies, Pyongyang has refused to pick up the phone. This is a rare case where North Korea is refusing to repatriate its citizens, even when they have expressed a clear desire to return home.
The reasons behind this refusal are attributed to the tense relations between North and South Korea. In October, the state-run Korea Central News Agency confirmed that changes to the North’s constitution had gone into effect, and South Korea is now officially designated as a ‘hostile state.’ This has led to increased tensions, with roads across the border being dug up and blocked with anti-tank obstacles, railway lines being removed, and the frontier being ‘permanently‘ sealed.
Tense North-South relations refer to the complex and often strained interactions between nations in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly the United States, Canada, and European countries, and those in the Southern Hemisphere, such as Brazil, Argentina, and Australia.
Historical colonialism, economic disparities, and cultural differences contribute to these tensions.
Statistics show that trade imbalances and unequal economic partnerships exacerbate the issue.
For instance, the United States has significant trade deficits with several South American countries.
Understanding these historical and economic factors is crucial for improving relations between nations.
A Break in Communication
As a result of these tensions, North Korean personnel at the Panmunjom border post are no longer responding when the South calls the cross-border hotline. The relationship was already strained before Yoon Suk Yeol became president, but now it has become even worse due to his hardline policy towards Pyongyang.
The Panmunjom Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a buffer zone between North and South Korea, established in 1953 as part of the Armistice Agreement that ended the Korean War.
Spanning 2.5 miles wide and 155 miles long, it separates the two Koreas at the 38th parallel.
The DMZ is one of the most heavily militarized borders in the world, with over 1 million soldiers from both sides stationed nearby.
In 2018, North and South Korea signed the Panmunjom Declaration, agreeing to denuclearize the peninsula and work towards a peace treaty.
Concerns for the Well-being of Families
Ahn Yinhay, a professor of international relations at Korea University in Seoul, questions whether the repeated desire to return to North Korea by the two fishermen is in part out of concern for the well-being of their families. The regime in Pyongyang has traditionally treated relatives of people who flee the nation harshly, including putting them in labor or political re-education camps.
A Potential Opportunity for Repatriation
However, there may be an opportunity for repatriation after June 3, when South Korea goes to the polls to elect its new president. The Liberal Party candidate, Lee Jae-myung, is widely expected to try to build bridges with the North, and his willingness to provide aid without conditions may change the North’s stance on communications.
Lee Jae-myung is a South Korean politician who served as the Governor of Gyeonggi Province from 2014 to 2022.
He was a presidential candidate in the 2022 South Korean presidential election, representing the Democratic Party of Korea.
Born on September 2, 1970, Lee Jae-myung graduated from Seoul National University and Harvard Law School.
He gained prominence for his progressive policies, including housing reform and economic development.
Lee Jae-myung's campaign focused on addressing income inequality and promoting social welfare.
Until then, the two men will be stuck in limbo, exposed to the bright lights and relative opulence of life in South Korea. They would be wise to guard their tongues if they do eventually return to their homeland, as Lankov notes that they are not going to be excessively talkative about what they have seen.
