"The court has ruled that North Korea must compensate the South Korean government 44.6 billion won (USD 32.5 million)", a spokesperson for the Seoul Central District Court said today.
The Kaesong Joint Liaison Office building was constructed in the Kaesong Industrial Complex under the Panmunjom Declaration. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and then-South Korean president Moon Jae-in signed this declaration during a summit in 4/2018. The office functioned as a de facto embassy for both countries, providing a direct communication channel between the two Koreas. Dozens of officials from both nations worked in the building, and South Korean officials visited weekly.
Relations between the two sides deteriorated after nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang stalled. Additionally, South Korean activists sent leaflets across the border. In response, North Korea destroyed the office on 16/6/2020, claiming the facility had become "useless".
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Scene of North Korea destroying the inter-Korean joint liaison office on 16/6/2020. *Photo: Korea Herald* |
The compensation lawsuit was filed in 2023 under President Yoon Suk-yeol, known for his hardline policy against North Korea, who was later impeached for a controversial martial law decision. This action marked the first time the South Korean government directly sought compensation for damages from the North Korean state.
Experts believe the likelihood of North Korea paying compensation is very low. Meanwhile, Seoul stated it would "consider necessary next steps".
"North Korea's stance on destroying the building is clear: they believe this action was justified and carried out in response to South Korea's wrongdoings", said Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification.
According to Hong, whether North Korea responds to the ruling will depend on how the South Korean government publicly states its position on the matter. The South Korean Ministry of Unification affirmed that the government hopes inter-Korean dialogue will resume and that all issues between the two sides can be resolved through dialogue and cooperation.
Huyen Le (According to AFP)
