Moon Administration Security Line "No Order to Delete Information... Despite Criticism, the Claim of Defection to North Korea Was Disclosed"

Noh Young-min, Park Ji-won, Seo Hoon Press Conference
"Should Not Be Framed as Crisis Management Crime"
"Using Inter-Korean Relations for Political Strife Is Self-Defeating"
No Regime-Level Benefit in Northward Defection Claims
"Northward Defection Claims Should Be Criticized as Military Security Failure but Were Publicized"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok and Park Jun-i] Key figures related to the West Sea government official shooting incident during the Moon Jae-in administration refuted the investigation results of the prosecution and the Board of Audit and Inspection on the 27th through a press conference, stating that "there was no instruction to delete or modify information." Former Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min, former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won, and former Presidential Security Office Director Seo Hoon completely denied the allegations of fabricating the defection of the West Sea government official.

At the press conference held at the National Assembly regarding the West Sea government official shooting incident and the expulsion of heinous criminals, security line officials from the Moon Jae-in administration expressed their opposition to the fabrication controversy.

Former Chief of Staff Noh said, "I understand this meeting was arranged as part of countermeasures amid concerns that the one-sided leaks by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration are being reported as facts and are becoming accepted as established truths." He added, "The Blue House is not an institution that produces information. It is a place that receives produced information and intelligence. Reports by some media outlets claiming that the Blue House instructed information or intelligence-producing agencies to delete or modify information are completely untrue as far as I know."

He warned, "Turning even inter-Korean relations, which are fundamental to national interest in peace and security, into a target of political retaliation against the previous administration will be shooting oneself in the foot."

Former Director Park stated, "I have never received any instruction from the Blue House Security Office to delete materials, nor have I ever ordered NIS employees to delete anything." He pointed out, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration is accusing us through the NIS whistleblower, Board of Audit and Inspection, and prosecution investigations that we did not delete or could not delete materials, and that even if deleted, residual data remains." He explained, "The NIS shares military intelligence, and even if the NIS deletes intelligence, it remains with the original producing agency, the Ministry of National Defense. The Ministry of National Defense's own production reports remain on the NIS main server. I have never ordered deletion, but even if I had, the NIS is not so corrupt or foolish as to follow such orders."

Former Director Park added, "If the prosecution requests, I will confidently undergo investigation and definitely reveal the truth."

Former Director Seo explained, "Even now, the shock from the West Sea shooting incident has not faded. Under urgent and limited conditions at the time, we did our best." He said, "There was never any baseless attempt to label it as defection, nor was there any reason or responsibility to do so." He also expressed regret, saying, "The two individuals already detained (former Minister of National Defense Seo Wook and former Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard Kim Hong-hoe) also did their best under the limited circumstances at the time. It is very unfortunate that their lifelong dedication and honor to the country are being seriously damaged." He warned, "Procedural judgments for crisis management and security should not be judged as crimes."

During the Q&A with reporters, former Director Seo said, "There are claims of defection fabrication, but the government has neither benefit nor practical gain from that." He pointed out, "The Minister of National Defense will regard it as a failure of vigilance for not preventing a defector, which is one of the important matters."

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