Search for Missing Yeonpyeongdo Official Continues During Chuseok Holiday... Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries "No Significant Findings"

(Photo) [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The search for Mr. A, a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official who went missing near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea and was shot dead by North Korean forces, is ongoing during this Chuseok holiday. However, no significant findings have been made yet.

On the 4th, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that as of 9 a.m., 34 vessels and 7 aircraft are conducting a maritime search for the missing person near Yeonpyeong Island.

The search is being carried out extensively from the west of Yeonpyeong Island to the south of Socheong Island, as it was the previous day.

A Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official stated, "Ten vessels and two aircraft from the Coast Guard, 16 vessels and four aircraft from the Navy, one firefighting aircraft, and eight government vessels are involved in the search," adding, "So far, no unusual findings have been discovered."

Earlier, on the 29th of last month, the Coast Guard announced preliminary investigation results, stating, "After examining various circumstances, it has been determined that the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official who went missing at sea near the northern end of Soyeonpyeong Island in the West Sea was shot and killed by North Korea after defecting to the North."

This conclusion was based on facts such as the missing person being found in North Korean waters in an exhausted state, wearing a life jacket while clinging to floating debris; North Korea having detailed knowledge of his personal information including name, age, hometown, and height, which only the missing person would know; and confirmation of circumstances indicating his intention to defect to the North.

In response, Mr. A's elder brother refuted the Coast Guard's announcement as "fiction." He questioned, "If my brother was captured by the ruthless North Koreans, would he not have answered questions about his personal information? Does having debt justify defecting to the North?"

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