A North Korean boat captain was reportedly executed in front of one hundred workers after listening to foreign radio.

As Radio Free Asia reported, the unnamed fisherman, who was reportedly in his 40s, was publicly shot by firing squad after the authorities discovered he had been listening to RFA for over 15 years.

According to the US-funded broadcaster, the man was shot in front of other fishing officials and captains to serve as an example to those who would dare to listen to foreign media.

“In mid-October, a captain of a fishing boat from Chongjin was executed by firing squad, on charges of listening to Radio Free Asia regularly over a long period of time,” a source who is allegedly a member of North Korean law enforcement told RFA’s Korean Service.

“We know that the captain’s surname was Choi and he was in his 40s. He was working out of a fishery base affiliated with the Central Party’s Bureau 39.”

As the source went on to claim, the executed man owned a fleet of fifty ships and was sentenced to death by firing squad after confessing “to listening to RFA broadcasts since the age of 24, when he was serving in the military as a radio operator.”

For more than 15 years, even after he was out of the military, Choi allegedly continued to listen to Radio Free Asia and other foreign broadcasters.

“We know that the provincial security department defined his crime as an attempt of subversion against the party,” the source added.

“They publicly shot him at the base in front of 100 other captains and managers of the facility’s fish processing plants. They also dismissed or discharged party officials, the base’s administration and the security officers who allowed Choi to work at sea.”

According to the RFA report, the authorities were made aware of the fishing captain’s actions after a fisherman reported his activities in search of vengeance.

“It is really common for people who work on ships to enjoy broadcasts in the Korean language, such as RFA, through their radio communicators when they go out to the sea,” another source reportedly told the outlet.

“Therefore, it seems that the authorities made an example out of Choi to imprint on the residents that listening to outside radio stations means death.”

What are your thoughts on this matter? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to SHARE this post with your family and friends. For more news and stories, follow us on Facebook!

 

Replaced!