Yeonpyeongdo Official Shot by North Korea... Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries: "Coast Guard Investigating the Fishing Guidance Vessel"

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] A Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official, Mr. A, who went missing on the 21st near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea, was shot and killed by North Korean forces. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard is conducting an investigation on the fishing guidance vessel (Mugunghwa 10) that Mr. A was aboard.

On the 24th, a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official stated, "Initially, the plan was to dock the Mugunghwa 10 near Daeyeonpyeongdo for the Coast Guard to investigate, but investigators are now boarding the vessel directly to conduct the investigation." He added, "We understand that the focus is on examining Mr. A’s personal belongings, onboard CCTV, and communications."

The Fisheries Management Unit under the Ministry primarily oversees the safe operation of domestic fishing vessels during fishing activities and cracks down on illegal fishing by foreign vessels. It also conducts land-based inspections related to illegal distribution of seafood and use of harmful substances, monitors illegal distribution of duty-free fishing fuel, and regulates illegal expansion or modification of fishing vessels as well as registration of fishing vessel brokerage businesses. There are three Fisheries Management Units covering the East Sea, West Sea, and South Sea. Among them, the West Sea Fisheries Management Unit, to which Mr. A belonged, has jurisdiction from Baengnyeongdo at the northernmost part of the West Sea to the waters of Gyeongin, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, and Jeonnam.

The fishing guidance vessel, on which Mr. A, a second-class navigator, was aboard, departed from Mokpo on the 16th with a total of 16 people on board to monitor illegal fishing activities around the Yeonpyeongdo area. It was scheduled to return to Mokpo on the 25th.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Ministry of National Defense announced, "After precise analysis of various intelligence, it has been confirmed that our citizen found in the northern waters was shot and his body burned by North Korean forces." The Ministry strongly condemned North Korea’s atrocity and urged North Korea to provide an explanation and punish those responsible.

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