NORTH KOREA GIVES DEATH SENTENCE FOR AIDING ESCAPEES

February 11, 2008: in Hoeryo'ng, the North Hamgyo'ng Provincial Court pronounced on December 13, 2007 the maximum penalties of death and life imprisonment for defendants indicted on suspicion of arranging or actively assisting people's escape from North Korea, Bbc reported.
In a sentencing hearing held in a closed public court, the provincial court ruled that this incident was "a treasonous act of human trafficking of innocent people" and pronounced the death sentence for O Myo'ng-nam (a Hoeryo'ng resident), who was indicated as the ringleader.
Han Kang-nam (a Hoeryo'ng resident), who was indicted on the same charge, received the sentence of life in prison.
These facts were confirmed through multiple internal sources and officials of governing organs. The North Korean people accept the provincial court decision as the final verdict.
A source who watched the trial said, "The transcript revealed that he had constant contact with North Korean escapees in South Korea using a Chinese cell-phone, leaked North Korean internal intelligence, delivered money to families, and helped a total of 16 North Korean escapee families to escape to China."
A source in Hoeryo'ng said "he did not kidnap and sell anyone, and no one was sent to China by force. Weren't they all sent because they said they wanted to go?"  (Sources: BBC, 11/02/2008)