A report published in South Korea yesterday suggested that North Korea human rights advocate and NKnet researcher Kim Young Hwan could be released from Chinese detention sometime in the middle of this month.
The report asserted that China is beginning to feel the burden of international criticism over Kim’s imprisonment, which has continued for more than two months without adequate consular access and with no legal access whatsoever. The lack of information being made available is lending weight to concerns over Kim’s physical condition, and this is placing additional pressure on the Chinese authorities to expedite his release.
According to the report, which cited an official close to the case, “I heard that Kim will get out this month. I can’t specify an exact date, but a related government minister has assured me of it.”
A second official also pointed out, “If Kim is charged then they will have no choice but to proceed with the entire judicial process. But because the Chinese government has not charged him, there is the possibility of early release.”
However, an official with the Committee for the Release of North Korea Human Rights Activist Kim Young Hwan was unable to confirm the story yesterday, saying, “We have yet to obtain any information related to the release of Researcher Kim.”
In the meantime, the South Korean government believes that Kim is being treated well while in detention. According to a government official, “The Chinese government is treating Kim as well as it can, and our government has been told that there are no problems with his health, either.”
Kim was arrested in Dalian, a major city in Liaoning Province, on March 29th by agents from the Chinese Ministry of State Security. Three other human rights activists connected with him were arrested at around the same time.
Irrespective of Kim’s rumored release, the release committee is planning to speak with the U.S. State Department’s special envoy for North Korean human rights, Robert King, when he arrives in Seoul this Saturday.
