Prosecutors to Summon Former Chief of Staff Noh Young-min Today for 'Forced Repatriation'... Tightening Investigation on Higher-Ups Again

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution, investigating the 'forced repatriation of North Korean fishermen' case, summoned former Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min on the 16th, signaling a renewed tightening of the investigation into higher-ups.

The Public Investigation Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Jun-beom) called former Chief of Staff Noh for questioning as a suspect on the same day.

Former Chief of Staff Noh is suspected of being involved in forcibly sending back two North Korean fishermen, who are presumed to have killed 16 fellow crew members in November 2019, to North Korea. The vessel carrying the fishermen was seized by the South Korean Navy on November 2, 2019. Two days later, on the 4th, the National Intelligence Service investigated that the repatriation policy was decided at a Blue House countermeasure meeting presided over by former Chief of Staff Noh. The People Power Party's Task Force on National Security Disorder reported former Chief of Staff Noh and others to the prosecution in August on charges including abuse of authority, illegal detention and confinement, and dereliction of duty.

The prosecution previously questioned former Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-chul as a suspect on August 20-21. A month later, they summoned former Chief of Staff Noh, another higher-up. After questioning former Chief of Staff Noh, the prosecution is expected to summon former Blue House National Security Office Director Chung Eui-yong and former National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon, who were at the top of the decision-making structure at the time.

Besides these higher-ups, the investigation team also summoned former Blue House National Security Office First Deputy Director Kim Yoo-geun and former National Intelligence Service Third Deputy Director Kim Jun-hwan last month for questioning. Former Deputy Director Kim is the person who received a text message on the day of the fishermen’s repatriation from former Joint Security Area (JSA) Security Battalion Commander Im Eui-jin stating, "This is Colonel Dan-gyeol ○○. At 3 p.m. today at Panmunjom, two North Korean residents are scheduled to be sent back to the North." Former Deputy Director Kim is suspected of being involved in removing expressions such as "forced investigation needed" and "defection" and adding "no evidence of anti-state activities" while delivering a report containing the National Intelligence Service’s joint investigation status to the Ministry of Unification.

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