South Korean missionary arrested in North makes ‘confession’
A South Korean missionary arrested in North Korea in October said on Thursday he had sought to establish underground churches while operating under the orders of South Korea’s intelligence agency.
At a news conference staged in Pyongyang, Kim Jeong-wook, wearing a dark suit and in apparent good health, read a statement that detailed a number of anti-government activities.
I also vilified and insulted the North’s leadership with extremely colourful language
No questions were taken at the event, footage of which was broadcast on South Korean television.
Foreigners arrested in North Korea are often required to make a public “confession” which can then expedite their eventual release.
“I thought that the (North’s) current regime should be brought down and acted ... under directions from the (South’s) National Intelligence Service,” Kim said.
“I met with North Koreans and introduced them to the NIS,” he added.
When Kim was first arrested, the North simply announced that it had captured a South Korean “spy” and ignored repeated requests from Seoul to properly identify the detainee.