'Cold cases' may walk again as South Korea removes statute of limitations on murder

South Korea has removed the time limit on prosecuting murderers, paving the way for further investigation of infamous cold cases, reports said Saturday.

The National Assembly on Friday passed an amended criminal procedure law, removing the 25-year statute of limitations on first-degree murder in a near-unanimous vote, Yonhap news agency said.

The statute of limitations was originally 15 years but was extended to 25 years in 2007.

But that extension was not retroactive and murder cases that occurred in the early 2000s were coming close to the time limit for prosecution.

The new revision does not apply to second-degree murder, manslaughter and other kinds of death resulting from accidents.