Kim Dong-shik[a] (Korean: 김동식; Hanja: 金東植,[1] 1947 – disappeared January 16, 2000)[2] was a Korean-American Protestant minister who went missing in China in January 2000. His missionary and humanitarian work in China had involved aiding North Korean defectors there, and evidence eventually emerged that the North Korean regime was responsible for his disappearance.[3][4][5] In 2015, a U.S. federal court awarded damages to his family after determining that Kim had likely died in a North Korean prison camp after being abducted from China by North Korean operatives who regarded Kim's activities as a threat to the regime.[6][7][8]
Kim was born in South Korea in 1947. He moved to Chicago, Illinois as a young man, becoming a permanent resident of the United States. He served as minister of the Chicago Evangelical Holiness Church.[2]
In the 1990s, Kim came to the attention of North Korean authorities by aiding North Korean defectors in China, and by evangelizing to North Korean athletes attending the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.[5] In late 1999, Kim was in northeastern China, where he had established shelters and a school for orphaned and handicapped refugees.[9]
Disappearanceedit
On January 16, 2000, Kim was boarding (or, according to some sources, was forced into) a taxi outside a restaurant in Yanji, a Chinese city near the North Korean border, when unknown men jumped in after him and the vehicle sped away.[10][9] Although Kim's family suspected North Korean involvement in his disappearance, little solid evidence about his fate emerged until 2004, when a North Korean defector to South Korea told authorities he had seen Kim in a cell at the Ministry of State Security office in Hoeryong – a North Korean town across the border from Yanji – shortly after his abduction. In 2005, a Chinese national of Korean descent confessed in a South Korean court that he had aided North Korean agents to abduct Kim and transport him across the border to North Korea.[6][11][5]
In January 2005, a number of Illinois lawmakers, including then-senator Barack Obama, jointly signed a letter to North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations, describing Kim as a "hero" and requesting information from North Korea as to his whereabouts.[5] Intelligence reports suggested that Kim had died on an undetermined date in a North Korean prison camp in the outskirts of Pyongyang.[10]
Lawsuitedit
In 2009, Kim's son and younger brother, both U.S. citizens, brought a lawsuit against North Korea in a U.S. federal court, seeking damages for Kim's torture and murder. Although the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) usually protects foreign governments from being sued in U.S. courts, an exception exists for countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism, including North Korea.[b] North Korea did not respond to the lawsuit, which was initially dismissed by the court for lack of first-hand evidence that Kim had been tortured and killed by the North Korean regime. However, in December 2014, an appeals court overturned the dismissal, stating that evidence of North Korea's involvement in Kim's abduction, together with testimony from expert witnesses about widespread torture in North Korean prison camps, were sufficient for the family to seek damages.[7] On April 9, 2015, the court handed down a default judgment that Kim had been abducted by North Korean agents, and had likely died in a North Korean prison camp after suffering torture there. His family was awarded damages of $330 million.[6][12] The Times of Israel reported that "North Korea is not expected to pay the damages, but lawyers will seek the confiscation of North Korean assets such as bank accounts and company shares."[4]
Aftermathedit
In May 2019, a North Korean cargo ship, Wise Honest, was judicially seized in Indonesia by the U.S. government for allegedly transporting and selling North Korean coal in breach of international sanctions. U.S. federal judges ordered that the vessel be sold to compensate the family of Kim Dong-shik, and also the family of Otto Warmbier, an American tourist who had died in 2017 shortly after being repatriated in a coma to the U.S. from North Korea, where he had spent more than a year in custody on a charge of subversion. In both cases, U.S. federal courts had found North Korea liable for the men's deaths.[13][14]
^Sometimes romanized as Kim Dong-Sik or Kim Dongsik.
^North Korea was first designated as a state sponsor of terrorism by the U.S. government in 1988. It was removed from that list on October 11, 2008, and was re-added on November 20, 2017. The Kim family filed its lawsuit in April 2009 within a 6-month leeway specified by the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.
Referencesedit
^""2000년 김동식목사 납북, 北공작원-조선족이 주도"". Donga (in Korean). 2004-12-14.
^ abWolman, Andrew; Lazarow, Andrea (30 May 2017). "Han Kim and North Korean Accountability for Torture and Unlawful Killing". Journal of East Asia and International Law. 10 (1): 12. doi:10.14330/jeail.2017.10.1.12.
^"US Cites Signs of Progress on North Korean Nuclear Issue". VOA News. November 1, 2009.
^ ab"Israel Law Center wins $330m case against North Korea". Times of Israel. April 17, 2015.
^ abcdKessler, Glenn (19 June 2008). "N. Korea's Abduction of U.S. Permanent Resident Fades From Official View". Washington Post.
^ abcChoe, Sang-Hun (April 15, 2015). "After 15 Years, Legal Victory for Family of Pastor Believed Abducted by North Korea". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 7, 2020.
^ abMorello, Carol (December 23, 2014). "U.S. court: North Korea liable for damages in kidnapping case". Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 8, 2020.
^Bouboushian, Jack (December 26, 2014). "North Korea Hammered for Slain Samaritan". Courthouse News.
^ abMacintyre, Donald (January 31, 2005). "Missing in Action". Time. (subscription required)
^ abKirkpatrick, Melanie (2012). Escape from North Korea: The Untold Story of Asia's Underground Railroad. Encounter Books. p. 151. ISBN978-1-59403-633-0.
^"Seoul Court Sentences Man Who Helped North Korea Kidnap South Korean". VOA News. October 29, 2009.
^"Kim v. Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 87 F. Supp. 3d 286 (D.D.C. 2015)". Casetext.com. April 9, 2015.
^"Seized North Korean cargo ship sold to compensate parents of Otto Warmbier, others". Navy Times. October 9, 2019. Archived from the original on April 27, 2020.
^Salmon, Andrew (November 22, 2019). . Asia Times. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020.
January 01, 1970
dong, shik, this, korean, name, family, name, korean, 김동식, hanja, 金東植, 1947, disappeared, january, 2000, korean, american, protestant, minister, went, missing, china, january, 2000, missionary, humanitarian, work, china, involved, aiding, north, korean, defect. In this Korean name the family name is Kim Kim Dong shik a Korean 김동식 Hanja 金東植 1 1947 disappeared January 16 2000 2 was a Korean American Protestant minister who went missing in China in January 2000 His missionary and humanitarian work in China had involved aiding North Korean defectors there and evidence eventually emerged that the North Korean regime was responsible for his disappearance 3 4 5 In 2015 a U S federal court awarded damages to his family after determining that Kim had likely died in a North Korean prison camp after being abducted from China by North Korean operatives who regarded Kim s activities as a threat to the regime 6 7 8 Kim Dong shikBorn1947South KoreaDisappearedafter January 16 2000North Korea presumed OccupationChristian ministerKnown forAbduction and likely death at hands of suspected North Korean agents Contents 1 Background 2 Disappearance 3 Lawsuit 4 Aftermath 5 See also 6 Notes 7 ReferencesBackground editKim was born in South Korea in 1947 He moved to Chicago Illinois as a young man becoming a permanent resident of the United States He served as minister of the Chicago Evangelical Holiness Church 2 In the 1990s Kim came to the attention of North Korean authorities by aiding North Korean defectors in China and by evangelizing to North Korean athletes attending the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta Georgia 5 In late 1999 Kim was in northeastern China where he had established shelters and a school for orphaned and handicapped refugees 9 Disappearance editOn January 16 2000 Kim was boarding or according to some sources was forced into a taxi outside a restaurant in Yanji a Chinese city near the North Korean border when unknown men jumped in after him and the vehicle sped away 10 9 Although Kim s family suspected North Korean involvement in his disappearance little solid evidence about his fate emerged until 2004 when a North Korean defector to South Korea told authorities he had seen Kim in a cell at the Ministry of State Security office in Hoeryong a North Korean town across the border from Yanji shortly after his abduction In 2005 a Chinese national of Korean descent confessed in a South Korean court that he had aided North Korean agents to abduct Kim and transport him across the border to North Korea 6 11 5 In January 2005 a number of Illinois lawmakers including then senator Barack Obama jointly signed a letter to North Korea s ambassador to the United Nations describing Kim as a hero and requesting information from North Korea as to his whereabouts 5 Intelligence reports suggested that Kim had died on an undetermined date in a North Korean prison camp in the outskirts of Pyongyang 10 Lawsuit editIn 2009 Kim s son and younger brother both U S citizens brought a lawsuit against North Korea in a U S federal court seeking damages for Kim s torture and murder Although the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act FSIA usually protects foreign governments from being sued in U S courts an exception exists for countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism including North Korea b North Korea did not respond to the lawsuit which was initially dismissed by the court for lack of first hand evidence that Kim had been tortured and killed by the North Korean regime However in December 2014 an appeals court overturned the dismissal stating that evidence of North Korea s involvement in Kim s abduction together with testimony from expert witnesses about widespread torture in North Korean prison camps were sufficient for the family to seek damages 7 On April 9 2015 the court handed down a default judgment that Kim had been abducted by North Korean agents and had likely died in a North Korean prison camp after suffering torture there His family was awarded damages of 330 million 6 12 The Times of Israel reported that North Korea is not expected to pay the damages but lawyers will seek the confiscation of North Korean assets such as bank accounts and company shares 4 Aftermath editIn May 2019 a North Korean cargo ship Wise Honest was judicially seized in Indonesia by the U S government for allegedly transporting and selling North Korean coal in breach of international sanctions U S federal judges ordered that the vessel be sold to compensate the family of Kim Dong shik and also the family of Otto Warmbier an American tourist who had died in 2017 shortly after being repatriated in a coma to the U S from North Korea where he had spent more than a year in custody on a charge of subversion In both cases U S federal courts had found North Korea liable for the men s deaths 13 14 See also editList of kidnappings North Korean abductions of Japanese citizensNotes edit Sometimes romanized as Kim Dong Sik or Kim Dongsik North Korea was first designated as a state sponsor of terrorism by the U S government in 1988 It was removed from that list on October 11 2008 and was re added on November 20 2017 The Kim family filed its lawsuit in April 2009 within a 6 month leeway specified by the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act References edit 2000년 김동식목사 납북 北공작원 조선족이 주도 Donga in Korean 2004 12 14 a b Wolman Andrew Lazarow Andrea 30 May 2017 Han Kim and North Korean Accountability for Torture and Unlawful Killing Journal of East Asia and International Law 10 1 12 doi 10 14330 jeail 2017 10 1 12 US Cites Signs of Progress on North Korean Nuclear Issue VOA News November 1 2009 a b Israel Law Center wins 330m case against North Korea Times of Israel April 17 2015 a b c d Kessler Glenn 19 June 2008 N Korea s Abduction of U S Permanent Resident Fades From Official View Washington Post a b c Choe Sang Hun April 15 2015 After 15 Years Legal Victory for Family of Pastor Believed Abducted by North Korea The New York Times Archived from the original on May 7 2020 a b Morello Carol December 23 2014 U S court North Korea liable for damages in kidnapping case Washington Post Archived from the original on May 8 2020 Bouboushian Jack December 26 2014 North Korea Hammered for Slain Samaritan Courthouse News a b Macintyre Donald January 31 2005 Missing in Action Time subscription required a b Kirkpatrick Melanie 2012 Escape from North Korea The Untold Story of Asia s Underground Railroad Encounter Books p 151 ISBN 978 1 59403 633 0 Seoul Court Sentences Man Who Helped North Korea Kidnap South Korean VOA News October 29 2009 Kim v Democratic People s Republic of Korea 87 F Supp 3d 286 D D C 2015 Casetext com April 9 2015 Seized North Korean cargo ship sold to compensate parents of Otto Warmbier others Navy Times October 9 2019 Archived from the original on April 27 2020 Salmon Andrew November 22 2019 Warmbier family start global crusade against Kim Asia Times Archived from the original on February 19 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kim Dong shik amp oldid 1189016894, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
