Detained missionary likely to be used as North’s bargaining chip

The South Korean currently detained by North Korea is known as South Korean missionary Kim Jeong-wook. North Korea claims that Kim is a “spy of South Korea.” Concerns over the possibility that his detention may be protracted emerge given that North Korea accuses him of espionage without disclosing his identity.

Kim, who was a missionary supporting North Koreans in Dandong, China, entered North Korea via the Yalu River on Nov. 11 and was caught in Pyongyang by North Korea’s State Security Agency (equivalent to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service), according to his family and sources in China. As the North Korean defectors he had been taking care of in Dandong were caught by the Chinese police and repatriated to the North, Kim reportedly entered the North following them to find out if they were alive and look for ways to provide relief materials.

Some raise the possibility of “intended abduction,” in which some contact within North Korea deceived him in going to Pyongyang to meet the repatriated people and had him caught upon his entry to North Korea. Ju Dong-shik, an official of Blue Korea who also supported North Koreans, said, “(We) confirmed his detention in North Korea through some channel, but the correct details of how he was arrested have not been known yet.” A source from Dandong said, “After Kim’s arrest, three security guards in the post near the Yalu River were also arrested for helping his entry.”

Having stayed in an underground church near the North Korea-China border since 2007, Kim had provided accommodations and foods for North Koreans who fled from North Korea or who failed to find a job after entering China for the purpose of visiting relatives. He gave these people various necessities as well as money to help them live a life after returning to North Korea. Early this year, he opened a small noodle factory with his personal funds and donations for the stable supply of foods to North Korea.

Kim who had worked in the construction industry became a Christian in his 40s. Immediately after graduating from a theological college, he went to Dandong, China, to help North Koreans. He came back to Korea in July and September and ran fundraising campaigns, urging people, “We should give “bread” first to North Korean people in need.” He supported North Koreans for humanitarian reasons. One source said, “North Korea’s accusation that Kim is a spy is absurd.” Kim’s family in Dandong recently returned to South Korea for safety reasons.

North Korea’ Korean Central News Agency reported on Monday last week, “A South Korean spy who infiltrated into the territories of our Republic was arrested,” adding, “This spy disguised as a religious man has spied out and plotted against the Republic for the past six years in a third nation near North Korea.”

The South Korean government is taking a prudent approach because North Korea has not confirmed his identity. An official from the Unification Ministry said, “We will wait for the North’s actions for some time, and if there is no response, we will consider specific responding measures.” However, the official was reluctant to mention how long the waiting will continue.

Some experts say that North Korea will use the release of Kim as one of its bargaining chips in negotiation with other nations along with the release of Kenneth Bae, a Korean American currently detained in North Korea. In other words, when it thinks a conciliatory gesture is necessary, the regime is likely to use these bargaining chips – the release of Bae and Kim – in order to obtain what they want from the United States and South Korea.