South Korea has a policy of accepting North Koreans who want to resettle in the nation to avoid political oppression and poverty at home. This week’s deportations were the first South Korea has carried out of any North Korean since the end of the 1950 to 1953 Korean War, the South Korean Ministry of Unification said. Observers say the men are likely to receive heavy punishment in North Korea, including possible execution. Seoul had determined the two’s acceptance into South Korean society would threaten public safety, Lee said. North Korean fishing boats occasionally drift into South Korean waters and Seoul usually accepts those who chose to resettle, while repatriating others who wish to return home.

Source: Taipei Times November 08, 2019 16:06 UTC