North Kills and Burns South Korean Missing Person at Sea; Ministry of Unification Says It Dampens Inter-Korean Reconciliation and Peace Efforts

Ministry of Unification Issues Strong Condemnation Statement... "An Atrocity That Cannot Be Justified for Any Reason"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of Unification criticized the incident in which a South Korean public official who went missing near the maritime area of Soyeonpyeongdo in the West Sea was shot and his body burned, calling it an act that pours cold water on inter-Korean reconciliation and peace efforts.

On the afternoon of the 24th, the Ministry of Unification issued a statement expressing condolences for the missing public official and said, "The act of the North Korean military shooting an unarmed South Korean citizen and burning the body is an inhumane act that cannot be justified for any reason," strongly condemning it.

The Ministry of Unification added, "This is directly against the aspirations of our people for peace on the Korean Peninsula," and emphasized, "We strongly urge North Korea to clearly reveal who committed this incident and to take all measures to prevent recurrence."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, military authorities announced that the South Korean public official who went missing from Soyeonpyeongdo was shot by a North Korean military patrol boat in North Korean waters, and that the body was also burned at sea.

On the 24th, Ahn Young-ho, Chief of Operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated in the Ministry of National Defense's official statement, "After a detailed analysis of various intelligence, our military confirmed that North Korea committed the atrocity of shooting our citizen (the missing person from Soyeonpyeongdo) found in North Korean waters and burning the body." He added, "We strongly condemn this atrocity by North Korea," expressing regret and strongly urging North Korea to explain and punish those responsible.

According to military authorities, Mr. A (47), a Grade 8 Marine Fisheries Officer belonging to the West Sea Fisheries Guidance Management Unit based in Mokpo under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, went missing on the 21st about 1.2 miles (2 km) south of Soyeonpyeongdo. On the day of disappearance, around 11:30 a.m. during lunch, he was not seen, and other crew members searched inside the ship and nearby waters before reporting to the coast guard. It was reported that Mr. A's shoes were found inside the ship at that time.

Considering that Mr. A went missing about 1.2 miles (2 km) south of Soyeonpyeongdo on the 21st, it is predicted that he attempted to defect to the North, drifted in North Korean waters, was detained by the North, and was shot. The time North Korean forces are estimated to have fired at Mr. A was around 9:40 p.m. on the 22nd. Subsequently, our military confirmed a light in the forward area around 10:11 p.m. on the 22nd, suggesting that the body was cremated at that time.

On the following day, the 22nd, intelligence detected signs that the missing person was found in North Korean waters in the afternoon. However, the military authorities first disclosed this fact to the media on the afternoon of the 23rd, two days after the disappearance, stating, "The survival status of the missing person cannot be determined at this time." It was only after reports late that day that the missing person was shot and cremated that the military officially confirmed the facts. Regarding this, a military official explained, "It took time because we wanted to analyze thoroughly and announce a comprehensive result, which is why the announcement was made today (the 24th)."

On the 24th, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, received a report from Park Jae-min, Deputy Minister of National Defense, at the National Assembly regarding the incident in which a government official aboard a fisheries guidance vessel of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries went missing near the northernmost part of the West Sea, close to Soyeonpyeongdo Island. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

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