Spy chief upholds Seoul's controversial repatriation of North Korean fishermen

What happened: NIS Director Lee Jong-seok said during a parliamentary audit that, in his personal view, it was right to send two North Korean fishermen back to the North in 2019, despite their stated intention to defect. Key numbers: The men, both in their 20s, were captured near Why it matters: The 2019 case remains politically and legally contentious, and the court ruled the men's basic rights were violated by the decision to send them back. Lee also dismissed reports of recent North Korean loudspeaker test broadcasts, attributing them to a mistaken account by a Daeseong-dong resident.

NIS Director Lee Jong-seok said during a parliamentary audit that, in his personal view, it was right to send two North Korean fishermen back to the North in 2019, despite their stated intention to defect.

The 2019 case remains politically and legally contentious, and the court ruled the men's basic rights were violated by the decision to send them back. Lee also dismissed reports of recent North Korean loudspeaker test broadcasts, attributing them to a mistaken account by a Daeseong-dong resident.