Members of Pro-Pyongyang Group Receive Jail Terms

Five members of Ilshimhoe, an illicit pro-North Korean group, were sentenced to between four to nine years in prison on charges of spying and collecting state secrets on Monday in their first trial. However, the lower court acquitted them of the charge of forming a pro-enemy organization.

The court sentenced Jang Min-ho, a 45-year-old Korean-American businessman indicted on charges of delivering national secrets to North Korea, to nine years in prison, a nine year suspended license, and a fine of $20,000.

Meanwhile, Lee Jeong-hun, 44, and Sohn Jeong-mok, 43, received six-year prison terms, Lee Jin-kang, 44, a five-year prison term, and Choi Gi-yeong, 40, a four-year prison term. Their licenses were also suspended for the same periods equivalent to their jail terms.

The court found them guilty of most charges including spying for North Korea in violation of Article 10 of the National Security Act and contacting North Korean spies in Beijing, China.

However, the court ruled that they were not guilty of forming Ilshimhoe as it doesn`t constitute a pro-enemy organization stipulated by the National Security Law since it lacks rules and command-and-order relationships among members.

Meanwhile, the prosecution is expected to appeal the court’s decision to acquit them on charges of establishing a pro-enemy organization.

verso@donga.com