Han Dong-hoon’s First Lawsuit Against North Korea Results in 44.6 Billion Won Ruling—Could It Hinder Inter-Korean Dialogue?

[Financial News] The Ministry of Unification said on the 16th that it intends to continue inter-Korean dialogue, regardless of the first-instance ruling ordering 44.6 billion won in compensation in the lawsuit over the destruction of the Inter-Korean Liaison Office.
Immediately after the ruling, MOU said, "We hope that inter-Korean dialogue will resume so that all issues between the two Koreas can be resolved through dialogue and cooperation." MOU also stated, "We respect the court’s decision and will continue reviewing the necessary measures."
The ruling, which found North Korea liable for a criminal act, could become an obstacle to inter-Korean dialogue. Nevertheless, MOU said it would not stop working to promote dialogue between the two Koreas.
The Inter-Korean Liaison Office was destroyed on June 16, 2020, during the Moon Jae-in administration. However, the lawsuit was pursued three years later, in June 2023, under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.
Han Dong-hoon, who served as justice minister and represented the plaintiff when the lawsuit against North Korea was filed, said on the 16th, "As the plaintiff, I won the civil lawsuit against North Korea seeking accountability for the destruction of the liaison office. It was the first lawsuit filed by the Republic of Korea against North Korea. I determined that it should be actively pursued, and I filed the lawsuit." He added, "The Republic of Korea can achieve genuine peace only by holding the North Korean regime accountable for its wrongdoing."
The first-instance ruling is expected to become final without an appeal. However, the South Korean government has no clear means of forcing North Korea to actually pay the damages.
North Korea is expected to ignore the ruling, designate the Republic of Korea as a "hostile belligerent state," and continue military provocations, including ballistic missile launches.
Despite the ruling, controversy is expected if the Lee Jae-myung administration proceeds with a project to provide North Korea with medical equipment free of charge as part of efforts to resume inter-Korean dialogue. Providing aid to North Korea with taxpayers’ money, while not receiving a single won in compensation, could run counter to the principle of reciprocity.



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