N. Korea’s Kim Faces War Crime Probe Over Support for Russia’s Ukraine Invasion

NK leader-ex-ICC chief

SEOUL, May 19 (Yonhap) -- The former head of the ICC stated on Monday that North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, might confront a war crimes investigation at the Hague's International Criminal Court (ICC). This comes due to his support for Russia's conflict with Ukraine. They also mentioned this would be an appropriate moment to hold him accountable.

Song Sang-hyun, who previously served as the head of the ICC, expressed these views during an international gathering in Seoul. This statement came shortly after North Korea acknowledged for the first time that it had sent soldiers to assist Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.

Despite Kim's human rights abuses in North Korea, he hasn't been referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) yet. However, according to the former ICC president, legal criteria have now been satisfied for Ukraine to bring charges against him at the ICC due to North Korea’s support of Russia in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

It’s an opportune moment to have Kim Jong-un appear before the International Criminal Court,” Song stated during his keynote address at the event, noting that North Korea’s military support for Russia gave Ukraine grounds to lodge a complaint against North Korea as a harmed party.

Ukrainian authorities have the chance to lodge a complaint against North Korea with the ICC, considering their status as victims," Song stated. "Although a complaint from Ukraine would be highly desirable, the ICC retains the power to launch an independent investigation on its own.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) released an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding alleged war crimes linked to Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.

Starting from the previous year, North Korea has sent numerous soldiers to assist Russian forces in the conflict. Both Pyongyang and Moscow have formally acknowledged this military deployment over the past month.

Without a time limit, an ICC arrest warrant forces the accused to “bear the burden throughout their lifetime” and subjects them to considerable mental distress by preventing them from entering any of the 124 countries that are members of the ICC, as pointed out by Song.

He similarly called for the ICC to become more proactive in addressing war crimes perpetrated by the North Korean leadership and those who assisted them.

pbr@yna.co.kr

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