Prosecutors to Summon Former Chief of Staff Noh Young-min on the 16th over 'Forced Repatriation of North Korean Fishermen'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The Public Investigation Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Jun-beom) will summon former Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min as a suspect on the 16th.

According to the legal community on the 14th, former Chief of Staff Noh is suspected of being involved in forcibly repatriating two North Korean fishermen, who are presumed to have killed 16 fellow crew members in November 2019, back to North Korea.

The ship carrying the fishermen was seized by the South Korean Navy on November 2, 2019, and according to the National Intelligence Service's investigation, the repatriation policy was decided at a Blue House countermeasure meeting presided over by former Chief of Staff Noh on the 4th, two days later.

In August, the People Power Party's Task Force on National Security Disorder reported former Chief of Staff Noh and others to the prosecution on charges including abuse of authority, illegal detention, and dereliction of duty.

On the 20th and 21st of last month, the prosecution investigated former Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-chul as a suspect in connection with this case.

After investigating former Chief of Staff Noh, the prosecution plans to summon former National Security Advisor Chung Eui-yong and former National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon as well.

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