Court Orders North Korea to Pay Approx. 44.6 Billion Won to South Korean Government for Blowing Up Liaison Office

A South Korean court has ruled that North Korea, which unilaterally blew up the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office, must pay approximately 44.6 billion won in damages to the South Korean government.

This marks a victory in 3 years and 3 months for the first lawsuit filed by the South Korean government—rather than private individuals—against North Korea.

The 46th Civil Settlement Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Hyung-chul) ruled in favor of the plaintiff today (September 16) in a damages lawsuit filed by the South Korean government against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The court virtually accepted the plaintiff's claim for 44,626,410,722 won in its entirety.

It did not explain the specific reasons for the ruling.

The Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office opened in September 2018 following the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration by former President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Completed in 2007, the building had previously been used as the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Consultation Office (Economic Cooperation Office) within the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, as well as a venue for inter-Korean talks.

After its opening, it served as a hub for inter-Korean exchanges, but inter-Korean director meetings were suspended after the February 2019 North Korea-U.S. summit in Hanoi ended in a "no deal," and South Korean personnel withdrew in January of the following year due to COVID-19.


In June 2020, North Korea blew up the liaison office building, taking issue with the distribution of anti-Pyongyang leaflets by some North Korean defector groups.

In June 2023, the Ministry of Unification filed a lawsuit against North Korea to stop the statute of limitations (3 years) for the right to claim damages for the liaison office bombing and to preserve state claims.

The Ministry of Unification calculated the state property damage at 47 billion won, including 10.25 billion won for the liaison office building and 34.45 billion won for the adjacent complex support center.

While there have been numerous lawsuits filed against North Korea by individuals such as North Korean defectors, this is the first time the South Korean government has been listed as a plaintiff.

The court proceeded with the trial by means such as service by public notice, as there was no way to notify North Korea of the lawsuit.

Service by public notice is a procedure where, when litigation documents cannot be delivered, the court posts the contents on a bulletin board or official gazette and deems the contents to have been delivered.

However, as with previous civil lawsuits against North Korea, it is projected that North Korea will not comply with the payment of consolation money.

There are currently no means to enforce North Korea's compliance with the damages.

Previously, the court postponed the sentencing date for this case once at the request of the Ministry of Unification.

At the time, the Ministry of Unification reportedly requested the postponement to review measures following the ruling.
(Photo: Capture from Korean Central Television footage, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.