(g) If identification as State agents is not possible, please indicate why you believe that Government authorities,
or persons linked to them, may be responsible for the incident
(h) If there are witnesses to the incident, please provide their names and relation to the victim. If they wish to
remain anonymous, indicate if they are relatives, by-standers, or others. If there is evidence, please specify.
The five sailors of the Daeseong-ho who were sent back to the Republic of Korea in November 1968 are the
witnesses.
(i) Additional Information on the case. Please indicate any other relevant information that could be useful to
find the person
The following information was obtained during an interview with Bok-yeon Kim, Hong-gyun Kim’s older sister, who
spoke with Hong-gyun Kim’s mother and brother after they attended the 15th reunion of separated families.
According to an interview with the relatives of Hong-gyun Kim’s mother and brother, On 9 May 2007, it was arranged
for Dong-deok Lee (Hong-gyun Kim’s mother) and Gang-gyun Kim (Hong-gyun Kim’s younger brother) to meet
Hong-gyun Kim at the 15th reunion of separated families. According to these relatives, Hong-gyun Kim told his
mother at their reunion, “Mother, reunification is going to happen at any moment, so we can meet then. The Supreme
Leader said that unification is going to happen very soon.” During the meeting Hong-gyun Kim told his family that
he was was married with two sons (who were 28 years old at the time of the meeting) and was living well; he said his
sons had gone into military service and would be discharged in 10 years.
However, DPRK officials were monitoring the meetings of separated families. According to his family, Hong-gyun Kim
changed the subject if his mother tried to have conversations with him on topics that were even remotely in-depth in
nature. Additionally, during their 2-hour long individual meeting at the Geumgang Mountain Hotel, his mother and
brother tried to give Hong-gyun Kim a family picture and letter, but he refused to take them. Hong-gyun Kim’s
actions indicate that he was conscious of the presence of the DPRK government's monitors.
3. INFORMATION CONCERNING ACTIONS TAKEN AFTER THE DISAPPEARANCE
* Indicate any action taken (police inquiries, jail, human rights commission, habeas corpus petition etc.)
taken by the relatives or others to locate the person. You are required to state the following: when, by
whom, and before which organ the actions were taken.
(a) Complaints (when, by whom, and before which organ/s)
After his disappearance, Hong-gyun Kim's parents reported it to the police. After that, police officers came
to search their house and investigate whether the family members had contacts with the DPRK; occasionally
the police monitored them at their house.
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Please see Attachment 2: Article
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