Prosecution Summons Former Chief of Staff Noh Young-min Over 'West Sea Shooting Allegations'

Former President's Chief of Staff Noh Young-min Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution investigating the 'West Sea Public Official Shooting Incident' has summoned former Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min, who reported the incident and investigation results in person to the then president.

The Public Investigation Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Hee-dong) is questioning former Chief of Staff Noh on the 13th as a suspect.

The prosecution plans to verify the discussions and directives exchanged during the related ministers' meetings held after the incident with former Chief of Staff Noh. Key issues include whether there was an attempt to cover up the Lee case or to frame it as a 'voluntary defection to the North,' and whether former Chief of Staff Noh was involved. Additionally, they will check the content of the report submitted to the president, the president's specific instructions, and whether those instructions were carried out.

Former Chief of Staff Noh was a key figure within the Blue House, assisting former President Moon Jae-in as Chief of Staff for nearly two years from January 2019. He attended an emergency related ministers' meeting convened around 1 a.m. on September 23, 2020, the day after the death of the late Lee Dae-jun, a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official who was shot by North Korean soldiers. Around 8:30 a.m. the same day, he, along with former National Security Office Director Suh Hoon, gave the first in-person report of Lee's death to the president.

The government requested fact-finding from North Korea through the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission and analyzed collected intelligence to investigate the circumstances of Lee being found in North Korean waters and his death.

On the morning of the 24th, former Chief of Staff Noh attended another related ministers' meeting around 8 a.m., received the Ministry of National Defense's investigation results, and reported them in person to the president together with former Director Suh. He also attended a related ministers' meeting presided over directly by the president on the 27th. At that time, former President Moon reportedly found the Ministry of National Defense's announcement about the cremation of the body too conclusive and ordered a reanalysis.

Former Chief of Staff Noh previously held a press conference with former Director Suh and former National Intelligence Service Director Park Jie-won, fully denying the allegations by stating, "The prosecution's 'voluntary defection' claim is a reckless retaliation without logic or basis." Noh was also investigated by the prosecution in October over the 'forced repatriation of North Korean fishermen' case. He is also under investigation for allegedly exerting pressure regarding the employment of former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jung-geun.

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