Parliamentary inquiry into N. Korean deportation an option

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party on Tuesday said the parliament could open an investigation into what really happened when Seoul deported two North Korean fishermen on Thursday a week ago.

“The committees -- intelligence, defense and foreign affairs -- will convene to find out what happened that day,” said Na Kyung-won, floor leader of the Liberty Korea Party. “If that’s not enough, we could open a parliamentary investigation.”

Last Thursday, South Korea deported two North Korean fishermen who entered its waters on a fishing boat five days earlier. Seoul said it sent the North Koreans back because it found they had killed 16 fellow crew members on their boat.

Civic groups question the veracity of the government’s claims, saying there was scarce evidence. Local media outlets have pointed to irregularities, such as a sophisticated laptop and cellphone, on a shabby fishing boat.

Seoul’s spy agency maintains the two deported North Koreans committed murder and destroyed evidence.

By Choi Si-young (siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com)