President Moon's Emergency Security Ministers Meeting... "Request for Inter-Korean Joint Investigation" (Comprehensive)

Defense Minister and NIS Director Attend... "Requesting Cooperation from Chinese Authorities and Fishing Boats for Recovery of Bodies and Debris"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] On the 27th, the Blue House held an emergency security ministers' meeting chaired by President Moon Jae-in and decided to request a joint investigation with the North to promptly investigate the incident in which our public official was shot and killed in North Korean waters.

Seo Ju-seok, Secretary General of the National Security Council (NSC) (First Deputy Director of the National Security Office), stated at a briefing at the Press Center in the afternoon, "There are differences in the circumstances and facts of the incident as understood by the South and the North, so we request a joint investigation for a prompt fact-finding."

Secretary Seo conveyed the meeting decisions, saying, "From 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM today, the President chaired an emergency security-related ministers' meeting."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Secretary Seo expressed a positive evaluation of the North's swift apology and promise to prevent recurrence, while urging efforts for the fact-finding investigation.

He said, "We hope that both the South and the North will disclose the facts together with an open attitude, regardless of the investigation results each side has announced," and added, "We request the restoration and reactivation of the military communication line for communication, consultation, and information exchange to achieve this."

Secretary Seo emphasized, "The recovery of the body and personal belongings should be prioritized both for fact-finding and humanitarian consideration for the bereaved families," and urged, "We hope that the South and the North will fully commit to search efforts in their respective waters and cooperate by exchanging necessary information."

He added, "Since there are also Chinese fishing vessels operating near the NLL (Northern Limit Line) waters, we request cooperation from the Chinese authorities and Chinese fishing vessels in the recovery of the body and personal belongings."

Meanwhile, the emergency security-related ministers' meeting chaired by President Moon was attended by Minister of National Defense Seo Wook, Director of the National Intelligence Service Park Ji-won, Chief of Staff to the President Noh Young-min, Director of the National Security Office Seo Hun, and First Deputy Director of the National Security Office Seo Ju-seok.

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