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A South Korean national in his 30s, who fled abroad after committing two murders in the United States, has been arrested in Laos and extradited to the U.S. after eight years on the run.
U.S. law enforcement authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), prosecutors, and police, announced that they had arrested Kim Myung-jin, a South Korean national in his 30s suspected of committing two murders in 2016 and 2018, in Laos and extradited him to the U.S.
Kim is accused of soliciting a contract killing of a man in San Jose, California, in June 2016.
Investigations revealed that the hitman hired by Kim at the time mistakenly shot and killed the wrong person instead of the intended target.
Furthermore, Kim is also accused of personally shooting and killing a friend in his 20s during a dispute over money in Westminster, California, in September 2018.
After fleeing abroad following the crimes, Kim was caught while staying in Laos when he walked into the U.S. Embassy himself to inquire about travel documents.
Although there is no extradition treaty between the U.S. and Laos, the U.S. Department of State and the FBI worked closely with the Laotian government to secure custody of Kim.
The extradition was carried out through a process in which Laotian authorities detained Kim for violations of immigration laws and subsequently deported him to the U.S.
U.S. authorities stated that this is the first instance of a fugitive on the run being extradited from Laos to the U.S.
Kim is expected to face trial first in Santa Clara County before being transferred to Orange County to face additional charges.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer emphasized, "Justice has no borders, and we will literally go to the ends of the earth to ensure that justice is served."
He further reiterated, "The arm of the law is long, and no country on this planet can protect a criminal."
(Photo: Getty Images Korea, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.