Prosecutors said Tuesday they have indicted a North Korean defector for violating the National Security Law after he sneaked into the North to help other North Koreans defect to South Korea.

The National Security Law bans South Koreans from contacting North Koreans or visiting the North without government permission. 

Suwon District Prosecutor's Office said the defector, surnamed Kim, has been detained for visiting the North five times since June 2011, and helping 21 North Koreans defect to the South.

The 44-year-old is also suspected of deceiving two North Korean defectors in September 2014 by saying he would help their child escape from the North and then pocketing some 9.6 million won ($8,000) without retrieving the child.

Prosecutors suspect that Kim delivered 2 million won to an official in the North's Worker's Party of Korea to gain assistance in pardoning one of his associates in helping North Koreans flee, who was arrested by the State Security Ministry of the North in February 2012. (Yonhap)