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SINGAPORE ― Two South Korean journalists will be expelled from Singapore Saturday for trespassing into the residence of the North Korean ambassador to Singapore, according to multiple sources, Saturday.
They arrived in Singapore a week ago ahead of the historic summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on June 12.
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| Police check a car entering the Shangri-La Hotel at the hotel's entrance on June 3. Singapore has tightened security arrangements in and around the Donald Trump-Kim Jong-un summit venue and hotels ahead of the June 12 meeting. / Korea Times photo by Jeong Min-seung |
"The Singapore Police Force has decided to expel two Korean journalists over the criminal tresspass," a source close to the police told The Korea Times asking not to be named.
The decision came a day after the police said in a statement Friday that they were investigating three journalists representing Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and their interpreter after receiving a report of a case of criminal trespass at about 3.50pm,Thursday.
Among them, the two journalists from KBS who entered the residence without permission were arrested on site.
"There is another man from KBS involved in the incident but he is not subject to punishment because he was waiting outside of the residence," he added. "Still, he will voluntarily have to leave Singapore."
According to the police, anyone convicted of criminal trespass under Section 447 of the Penal Code may be punished with jail of up to three months and/or a fine of up to $1,500.
"The Police would like to remind all foreigners visiting Singapore to abide by our laws. Those who break the law will be dealt with firmly, and this may include termination of visas and repatriation," said a police spokesman in a statement.
The source said that the expulsion is the result of the Singapore police taking the two Koreas into consideration.
"The police had no choice but to take a certain action because they received a report from the North Korean embassy," he said.
"At the same time, they don't want to take too harsh measures, such as jail term, because it could create noise ahead of the Trump-Kim summit."
Singapore has already been on alert over possible media frenzy ahead of the landmark summit as hordes of journalists have already gone into overdrive staking out at the summit venue and hotels.
The summit will be held at the Capella Hotel in Sentosa. Trump and Kim will be staying at the Shangri-La Hotel and The St. Regis, respectively. The three hotels and surrounding areas are declared as special event zones.
In an email sent out to media on June 1, the Singapore government warned that any activities violating the law, such as trespassing on protected areas and private property, would be subject to the law enforcement.
"We would like to remind the media to respect the privacy and needs of other hotel guests, airport users and travelers, and to refrain from any action that may cause distress and inconvenience to others," it said.
"The Police also seek your cooperation not to do anything that can pose a danger to yourself or other people," it added.
