Mugunghwa 10, the fisheries patrol vessel on which the missing Yeonpyeong Island public official was aboard. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] It has been confirmed that the North Korean military fired shots at A (47), a marine fisheries clerk (grade 8), and cremated the body at sea by pouring oil on it.
On the 24th, a military official stated, "A, a marine fisheries clerk (grade 8) belonging to the West Sea Fisheries Guidance Management Unit in Mokpo under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, went missing on the 21st about 1.2 miles (2 km) south of Soyeonpyeongdo Island at sea," adding, "The North Korean military patrol boat fired shots at A under orders from above, and a light was seen at the front around 22:11 on the 22nd."
The time when the North Korean military fired at A is estimated to be around 21:40 on the 22nd. Considering that A went missing on the 21st about 1.2 miles (2 km) south of Soyeonpyeongdo Island, it is predicted that A attempted to defect to the North, drifted in northern waters, was detained by the North, and was shot.
There are also criticisms inside and outside the military that North Korea may have violated the military agreement. However, a military official said on the same day, "The military agreement does not include small arms; it only applies to artillery," and added, "In particular, shooting at a person is not covered by the military agreement." This means that the military agreement was not violated.
The military agreement established buffer zones on land, sea, and air to prohibit hostile acts. North Korea's coastal artillery firing training in November last year was conducted not far from the area where the agreement was violated. Even if the intention was to prevent infectious diseases, the North's shooting at an unarmed civilian clearly constitutes a hostile act.
The inter-Korean military agreement is the "Military Agreement for the Implementation of the Panmunjom Declaration (9·19 Military Agreement)" signed on September 19, 2018, by then Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo and North Korean Minister of People's Armed Forces No Kwang-chol. It includes five measures to prevent accidental armed conflicts between the South and North Korean militaries. So far, the two Koreas have implemented ▶ suspension of military exercises around the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) ▶ establishment of no-fly zones near the MDL ▶ partial withdrawal of guard posts (GPs) inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) ▶ demilitarization of the Joint Security Area (JSA) in Panmunjom.
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