Minister of National Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff "Take Responsibility for the Defection Incident"

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo is attending the National Assembly Defense Committee plenary meeting on the 22nd and reporting on duties. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] Military commanders apologized for the defection incident of North Korean defector Kim Mo (24) who crossed into North Korea.

On the 28th, Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo appeared at the National Assembly National Defense Committee plenary session and apologized for the defection incident of North Korean defector Kim Mo (24), saying, "No matter how many times I am criticized, I have nothing to say," and "The Defense Minister takes unlimited responsibility for all aspects."

However, Minister Jeong stated, "Contrary to concerns, our border operation posture is not that vulnerable, and we have a system that operates normally and extensively," adding, "Although the public may not trust it, various systems and equipment have been significantly supplemented, and we actually have such capabilities."

Regarding the steel intrusion prevention rods in the drainage channel and the Yoon-hyeong barbed wire, which were identified as the defection route of Kim, he explained, "There is no damage to the prevention rods or anything like that, and it is believed that he slipped through between them," and "In the case of the barbed wire, it is almost impossible to confirm damage from the external appearance."

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Park Han-gi also apologized for the 'drainage channel defection' incident of North Korean defector Kim Mo (24).

Chairman Park said, "We are taking the Ganghwa Island defection situation seriously and deeply feel responsible," and "Since the (North Korean) boat entry at Samcheok Port on June 15 last year, we have made every effort to improve the inadequate border situation." He continued, "During this time, there was a failure in the garrison border operation earlier this year, and with consecutive failures in coastal border security due to illegal immigration in Taean, we were devising supplementary measures when the Ganghwa Island defection incident occurred."

On the same day, Kim Jun-rak, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a regular briefing, "The military evaluates that the defection occurred through the drainage channel near Yeonmijeong in Wolmigot, Ganghwa-eup, Incheon," and "The Joint Chiefs are conducting a detailed analysis of footage captured by military surveillance equipment."

This implies that Kim's movements before and after defection were captured by military surveillance equipment, raising criticism of the border readiness posture. Meanwhile, according to the combined investigation results by police and military authorities, Kim is estimated to have arrived at Wolgot-ri, Ganghwa Island, around 2:20 a.m. on the 18th, got off a taxi, and then escaped through the drainage channel under the fence timed with tidal changes, swimming across to North Korea. The military found Kim's bag near the drainage channel the day before, estimating the defection route. The bag found near the drainage channel contained swimming goggles, clothes, and a receipt showing that about 4.8 million won out of 5 million won withdrawn from a bank account was exchanged into dollars. Kim succeeded in defecting by swimming for about seven hours across the Han River estuary at the time of defection.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.