The Seoul Central District Court ruled partly in favor of five North Korean defectors who sued the South Korean government for having revealed the fact that they are from the North.

In its ruling, the court ordered the South Korean government to pay the five plaintiffs a total of 55 million won.

The five, who defected in 2006, had asked the South Korean authorities to keep their personal information confidential. However, the government released hints that enabled the media to deduce their personal information.

The defectors say the leak of their personal information makes them worry about the safety of their families left behind in the North.