[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] The Full Story of the Missing Person Case Revealed by the Ministry of National Defense (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] On the 24th, military authorities announced that a South Korean public official who went missing near Soyeonpyeongdo was shot by a North Korean military patrol boat in North Korean waters, and that the body was also burned at sea.

On the 24th, Ahn Young-ho, Chief of Operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated in the "Ministry of National Defense Statement" that "After a detailed analysis of various intelligence, our military confirmed that North Korea committed the atrocity of shooting our citizen (the missing person from Soyeonpyeongdo) found in North Korean waters and burning the body." He added, "We strongly condemn North Korea's atrocity" and expressed regret while "strongly urging North Korea to explain and punish those responsible."

According to military authorities, Mr. A (47), a marine fisheries officer (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. On the day of disappearance, around 11:30 a.m. during lunchtime, he was not seen, and other crew members searched inside the ship and nearby waters before reporting to the coast guard. It was reported that Mr. A’s shoes were found inside the ship at that time.

Considering that Mr. A went missing about 1.2 miles (2 km) south of Soyeonpyeongdo on the 21st, it is predicted that he attempted to defect to the North, drifted in North Korean waters, was detained by the North, and was shot. The time North Korean forces are estimated to have fired at Mr. A was around 9:40 p.m. on the 22nd. Subsequently, our military confirmed a light at the front line around 10:11 p.m. on the 22nd, suggesting that the body was cremated during this time.

On the following day, the 22nd, the military detected signs in the afternoon that the missing person was found in North Korean waters through intelligence. However, the military authorities first disclosed this fact to the media on the afternoon of the 23rd, two days after the disappearance, stating that "the survival status of the missing person cannot be determined at this time." It was only after reports late that day that the missing person was shot and cremated that the military officially confirmed the facts. Regarding this, a military official explained, "It took time because we wanted to analyze thoroughly and announce the comprehensive results, which is why the announcement was made today (the 24th)."

However, even if it was part of quarantine measures, since North Korean forces brutally shot an unarmed South Korean civilian, the impact on inter-Korean relations is expected to be significant. The military authorities reported that at around 4:45 p.m. on the 23rd, they notified the North through the United Nations Command via a traditional message about the disappearance and requested a response, but no reply has been received as of now. This is the second case of a South Korean civilian being shot and killed in North Korean territory since the incident involving Park Wang-ja, who visited Mount Kumgang in July 2008.

Meanwhile, there are also criticisms that North Korea violated the military agreement. However, a military official said on the day, "The military agreement does not include small arms but only artillery," adding, "In particular, shooting at a person is not covered by the military agreement."

The military agreement established buffer zones on land, sea, and air to prohibit hostile acts. North Korea’s coastal artillery firing training last November was not far from the area where the agreement was violated. Even if the intention was to prevent infectious diseases, North Korea’s shooting at an unarmed civilian clearly constitutes a hostile act.

The inter-Korean military agreement, which became a symbol of the Moon Jae-in administration’s North Korea policy, 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 the People’s Armed Forces No Kwang-chol. It includes five measures to prevent accidental armed clashes between South and North Korean forces. So far, South and North Korea have implemented ▶ suspension of military exercises near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) ▶ establishment of no-fly zones near the MDL ▶ partial withdrawal of guard posts (GPs) in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) ▶ demilitarization of the Joint Security Area (JSA) in Panmunjom.