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2d ago

Six Americans Detained on Ganghwa Island for Sending Rice, Dollars and Bibles to North Korea

They face charges under the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety after a coastal unit reported their early morning operation in a restricted danger zone.

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Members of North Korean defector group Kuensaem fill empty plastic bottles with rice and masks, during preparations for an event to send the bottles towards the North, in Seoul, South Korea, June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo
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Overview

  • The six U.S. nationals, aged in their 20s to 50s, were apprehended on June 27 after allegedly preparing about 1,300 plastic bottles filled with rice, one-dollar bills and copies of the Bible.
  • Ganghwa Island’s coastal area has been off limits since November after being designated a danger zone under South Korea’s disaster safety regulations.
  • Incheon’s Ganghwa Police Precinct is investigating the group for violating the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety.
  • Authorities are conducting interpreter-assisted questioning due to the suspects’ limited proficiency in Korean.
  • The case highlights President Lee Jae Myung’s efforts to curb unapproved cross-border aid launches as part of broader steps to ease tensions with North Korea.