Six American nationals, ranging in age from their 20s to their 50s, have been referred to prosecutors after being caught attempting to launch plastic bottles filled with rice and Bibles into North Korea as part of a missionary effort.
The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency’s Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Division reported on Tuesday that it has forwarded the case of the six American men to prosecutors without detention. They were arrested for violating the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety.
The group, including a man identified as A, is accused of attempting to launch more than 1,300 two-liter (about 67 ounce) plastic bottles containing rice, one-dollar bills, and Bibles toward North Korea. The incident occurred at approximately 1:06 AM on June 28 near Mangwol Fortress in Hajeom-myeon, Ganghwa County.
Mangwoldondae Outpost, located on the western edge of Ganghwa Island, is known as an area where objects can potentially reach North Korean shores during high tide.
The six individuals reportedly told police that their intention was to distribute the bottles as part of their missionary work.
All suspects were found to be carrying U.S. passports and had entered South Korea two to three months prior to the incident.
Investigators discovered that the group had conspired to load their supplies into a van and release them into the sea in order to avoid detection by locals.
Police investigations did not uncover any evidence of external support or backing for their actions.
It is worth noting that Ganghwa County implemented an administrative order last November prohibiting the launching of leaflets and similar materials toward North Korea.
A police spokesperson confirmed that all six individuals were identified as members of a church, and added that the evidence collected at the scene, including the plastic bottles, has been handed over to the prosecutor’s office.