Pyongyang, July 15 (KCNA) -- Ko Hyon Chol, defector to south Korea who was arrested for committing an anti-DPRK hostile act on the instruction of the south Korean puppet Intelligence Service (IS), was interviewed at the People's Palace of Culture here on July 15.
Present there were domestic and foreign journalists, members of foreign embassies and international bodies here and overseas compatriots staying in the DPRK.

Ko spoke at the interview:

I betrayed my homeland and such betrayal can never be forgiven. But I asked for this press conference to reveal the vicious anti-DPRK moves of the U.S. and the south Korean puppet group.

I am 53 years old. I was born in Jongju City, North Phyongan Province and had lived in Namha-dong, Sinuiju City before defecting to the south.

When the country had a hard time, I worked at the Evodia Daniellii Forest Station in Sinuiju City. At that time, I was investigated by a judicial organ for my engagement in smuggling.

Instead of repenting of my wrongdoings, I fled to Dandong of China on January 26, 2013, across the River Amnok on board a fishing boat in a bid to evade the legal sanctions.

On around February 20, 2014 when I was living a retired life I came to know a south Korean, Ri Song Su, thought to be around 65.

He was residing in Dandong as a stooge of the IS. At the first meeting, he made detailed inquiries about me, asking when and why I fled the north. And he persuaded me that I could live in comfort in south Korea, saying that he helped defectors from the north to go to south Korea not long ago and all of them were living well there.

When I asked him if he was from the IS, he replied Yes. He said, "Wait for me until I get in touch with you. And you must never go outside."

I knew it was a traitorous act to go to south Korea, but I promised him to do so, allured by money.

At around 8 a.m. on February 28, 2014, I left Dandong together with strangers and arrived in Laos via Shenyang, Qingdao and Kunming of China, along the route planned by Ri Song Su. Then I was detained by the police in a northern border town of Thailand for illegal entry.

After a trial, I was moved to what is called "International Immigration Camp" in Bangkok. The camp was teemed with agents of the IS.

One day, two men and one woman, who were allegedly staff members of the south Korean embassy in Thailand, called on me to ask in detail about my identity, schooling and career.

After a month-long investigation, I was forced to go to Inchon of south Korea by plane in the night of April 25. When I got on the plane, hooligans of the IS warned me neither to speak with others nor change the seat. They seemed to be very afraid of the disclosure of their allurement operation.

In south Korea, I had to undergo an investigation of IS agents and a brain-washing course at "Hana Complex" before settling in Sihung, Kyonggi Province at the end of September 2014.

Wandering about without job, I came to visit the "Association for Saving Defectors from the North". There I met Kwon Na Hyon, 57, who was called a representative of the association. Her real name is Kwon O Suk. Kwon is a human trafficker engaged herself in the abduction of DPRK citizens, under the wire-pulling of the IS and the United States, after defecting to south Korea from the DPRK for her crimes.

In December 2015 she introduced me to Choe Song Uk, 42, agent of the IS who architected an "operation for destroying statues".

My first mission from Choe was to gather the latest information about the Party, army and other objects in the DPRK as well as textbooks for primary, junior and senior secondary schools.

On his instruction, I made frequent visit to Dandong to make preparations for carrying out the task.

On March 8 this year, Choe gave me another order to collect the information about domestic animals on state-run livestock farms of the DPRK. And he told me that I had to make contact with him if I found out feasibility and then he would send to me necessary equipment for storage and carriage. This task was very important and it should be carried out without any mistake, he added.

In the evening of May 9, I came to get a phone call from Kwon Na Hyon, who ordered me to bring to south Korea some orphans aged from 6 to 9 from the north.

When I complained to her that it is hard to deal with children of six and nine as they are grown, Kwon told that it would be better if the children are girls and they would be sent to Canada or other countries as "adopted" and that she would provide all necessary things for their kidnapping.

She further said: An order was already received from Mr. Choe. Don't you know about the news that twelve maidens "made a group of defection from the north?" The case was not so easy. So, we should carry out the order unconditionally as it is an instruction from the higher office. The said group defection is only beginning. We, too, have to bring good results as soon as possible.

Hearing her, I came to feel unrest that the "operation for abducting citizens from the north" would get intensified and there is no other choice for me but to get engaged in it.

So, I asked a person called Hong residing in Uiju County, whom I've had personal acquaintance with before, to send photos of two children at an orphanage, promising big reward.

Under the demand of Kwon and Choe, I selected the children to be abducted and my helper and left Inchon for Dalian of China by air in the evening of May 23. On the next day I arrived in Dandong by train and asked Kwon to send a rubber boat needed for abduction.

Then, I went to Sugu Islet in the Amnok River near Taehwa-ri, Uiju County, North Phyongan Province. The islet belongs to the DPRK's territory. There I called Hong and gave him a box containing a rubber boat.

Back in Dandong, I phoned Kwon that I offered the boat and would go to bring children on the early morning of May 27.

On May 27, I came to Sugu Islet again only to be arrested by a competent organ of the DPRK on the spot at around 06:15.

My crime ended in the attempt, but I frankly admit that I integrated myself into gangsters of the south Korean puppet Intelligence Service and conducted an anti-DPRK smear campaign and was directly involved in the abduction of children, a hideous crime.

And I make my heartfelt apology to the country and all its people and my home folks.

At the interview, such evidence pieces were displayed as a mobile phone, rubber boat and children clothes, which were confiscated from Ko Hyon Chol when he was arrested, and photos of Kwon Na Hyon, Ri Song Su and Choe Song Uk and others.

Ko Hyon Chol gave answers to questions put by reporters.