Mizzima News

New Delhi (Mizzima) – Nineteen North Korean nationals, who were arrested earlier this month, for illegally entering Burma, will undergo trial at the Keng Tung Township Court in Shan state, in Eastern Burma on New Year's Eve, according to a court official.

"We just received their case [19 North Korean nationals], which was transferred from the Tachilek Township's Court," an official from the Keng Tung Township Court told Mizzima.

"They will be produced in court and will face trial on December 31," the official said.

The Burmese police in Tachilek Township in Shan state had arrested the 19 North Koreans earlier this month, when they allegedly entered Burmese territory, while on their way to Thailand from China.

The official at the Keng Tung Court said the North Koreans stayed illegally in eastern Burma from November 19 to December 1, 2008.

Currently, the 19 North Koreans are being detained in Keng Tung prison and have been charged under the Immigration Act 13/1 for illegally entering the country, the official said.

The arrest of the North Korean nationals is the first since North Korea and Burma improved bilateral relations in April 2007, when the deputy foreign ministers of both countries signed a deal in Rangoon.  

The following year, 2008, saw a number of high level delegations visit both countries including Burma's Foreign Minister, Nyan Win's historic visit to North Korea in October.

The two countries severed diplomatic ties in 1983, after Burma accused North Korea of a bomb attack targeting the visiting former South Korean President-led delegation. Although the South Korean president survived the attack, 21 people including four of his Cabinet Ministers were killed.