Six elderly former North Korean spions, aged 80 to 96, who served as long prison sentences in South Korea, asked to be repatriated for North Korea. One of the most notable cases is that of Ahn Hak-Sop, 95, who has been detained for over 40 years and now wants to be buried with his North Korean “comrades”.
Six elderly, ancient North Korean spies who participated in secret missions during the Korea War, asked to be repatriated for North Korea, who consider their true home after serving long prison penalties in South Korea.It is evident that they are treated as “prisoners of war” and, therefore, invoke the conventions of Geneva, which establish the rights and duties of people, combatants or civilians, in time of conflict.
The six elderly, aged among the 80 and 96 yearswere sentenced to long prison penalties for espionage in favor of North Korea. One of the most striking cases is that of Ahn Hak-sopcurrently with 95 yearswho has been detained for over 40 years until he was released.
According to the Ahn Hak-Sop had the opportunity to return to North Korea in 2000 during the government of Kim Dae-Jung, along with 63 other “unconverted” prisoners. However, he preferred to stay in South Korea, stating that “It would fight until the American military came out of South Korea.”
Was captured in April 1953, just three months before the signing of the Korean War Armistice Agreementon July 27 of that year. Would eventually be tried and convicted of collaboration with North Korea, then considered the “enemy”. Now you want to be buried next to their North Korean “comrades”with whom it served sentence in South Korea.
Conflict between Koreas began 75 years ago
A June 25, 1950North Korea, with the support of the Soviet Union and China, invaded South Korea. It responded with the help of the United States in a conflict inserted in the context of the Cold War. The war lasted until July 27, 1953, when a Armistice that created a demilitarized zone and allowed the exchange of prisoners.
However, a peace agreement has never been signed. More than 75 years later, the Two Koreas remain technically at warwith exchanges of threats, provocations and episodes of violence that keep the tension between the two politically opposite regimes.