[imText1]It has been confirmed that Kim Young Hwan, a former leader of the underground ‘Minhyukdang’ political party and an active North Korean human rights activists for over 15 years, is in detention in Dalian, China after being arrested on March 29th by the Chinese Ministry of State Security.
The ‘Committee for the Release of North Korea Human Rights Activist Kim Young Hwan’ revealed the news for the first time this afternoon, saying, “Mr. Kim, who departed South Korea with three others on March 29th, was arrested in Dalian and has been in detention for nearly 50 days.”
The South Korean Consulate-General has also confirmed that Kim and the three other South Koreans are in Chinese custody in Liaoning Province. Diplomats report that they were able to meet Kim on April 24th, but no reason for the arrests was given at that time, while no meeting between the remaining three men and diplomatic officials has been permitted to date.
The three arrested with Kim (49) are Yoo (44), Kang (42) and Lee (32). According to the release committee, “The three men arrested with Kim were also arrested in Darian, have been isolated by the Liaoning Province Ministry of State Security and are under secret investigation.” No information on where the men are being held has been obtained.
Therefore, in releasing the news the committee declared, “The three men are not being allowed any kind of consular or legal access and so there is no way of determining their custody situation or physical status. We urge the Chinese government to immediately allow them to meet their families and have an interview with the consul-general in accordance with international law.”
