On Mar. 23, a man in his 50s from Sinuiju, North Pyongan Province, received a life sentence following his arrest on suspicion of attempting to defect to South Korea, Daily NK has learned.

According to Daily NK sources in North Pyongan Province, the Sinuiju resident had set out last December in a small self-constructed boat but was detected by coastal sentries and turned over to the Ministry of State Security (MSS). Following a preliminary examination, the man was sentenced to life imprisonment for attempted defection.

Preliminary examinations include the entire interrogation process prior to suspects being indicted.

The man neither owned nor worked on a boat, nor was he involved in the fishing business, sources revealed. Last year, he borrowed money to construct the boat, which he failed to register with the authorities.

Upon its seizure, the boat was found to be carrying several antiques. The man testified during the preliminary examination to have been suffering from economic difficulties and therefore had intended to sell the antiques in Dandong, China.

Investigators with the MSS, however, judged that the antiques were of no value and that the man’s true intention was defection to South Korea by boat.

This judgement was based upon the boats course at sea, heading not towards China but rather in the direction of South Korea.

“The man suffered many hardships during the two month-long preliminary examination,” one source told Daily NK. “After receiving a life sentence in February, he was sent to the Kaechon Prison Camp.”

Daily NK reported in December that a family of four was arrested while trying to flee to South Korea by boat.

*Translated by Kathryn Beaver

Please direct any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.

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