MoF "Low Possibility of Slip for Missing Official in Yeonpyeongdo"

Slippers of Mr. A Neatly Found to the Right Rear of Sunmi
Weather Conditions Were Also Favorable at the Time
Regarding the Possibility of Defection to North Korea: "Not Our Place to Judge"

Fishing supervision vessel Mugunghwa 10, which the missing Yeonpyeong Island public official was aboard [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries stated on the 24th that the possibility of accidental fall is low regarding Mr. A, a Ministry official who went missing near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea and was shot dead by North Korean forces.

Um Ki-doo, Director of Fisheries Policy at the Ministry, said in an online briefing, "During the search for Mr. A by his colleagues, his slippers were found neatly placed to the right rear of the fisheries patrol vessel," adding, "While we cannot completely rule out the possibility of an accidental fall, it is unlikely." He also added, "The weather conditions on the day of disappearance were favorable."

He refrained from commenting on the possibility of voluntary defection to North Korea. Director Um said, "Whether or not defection occurred is not a matter for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to speculate or investigate," and "At present, there is no evidence or indication of voluntary defection."

Mr. A, a second-class navigator, was hired as an experienced worker in 2012 and had worked exclusively at the Ministry’s West Sea Fisheries Management Unit. Director Um stated, "It is understood that Mr. A never made any remarks suggesting defection to his colleagues," and "He got along well with his colleagues and was reputed to be a good worker."

The exact time of Mr. A’s disappearance has not yet been determined. According to the Ministry, Mr. A’s duty shift on the 21st was from midnight to 4 a.m. Typically, after the shift, workers rest and then return to work after lunch. However, Mr. A did not appear at the dining hall during lunchtime that day. Concerned colleagues began searching for him from 11:30 a.m., and a missing person report was filed with the Coast Guard at 12:51 p.m.

It is difficult to specify the time frame of Mr. A’s disappearance between 4 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Although it is confirmed that Mr. A started his duty shift that day, it is unclear whether he worked until 4 a.m. Ultimately, Mr. A disappeared sometime between midnight and 11:30 a.m. that day.

The duty shift hours and subsequent movements have not been confirmed. Director Um explained, "The Coast Guard is analyzing two CCTV cameras on the fisheries patrol vessel," and "We will be able to confirm the movements only after the Coast Guard’s investigation is complete." However, immediately after Director Um’s briefing, the Coast Guard revealed that "both CCTV cameras on the fisheries patrol vessel were broken, so we could not track Mr. A’s movements."

Meanwhile, on the same morning, the Ministry of National Defense announced, "After precise analysis of various intelligence, it has been confirmed that our citizen found in North Korean waters was shot and his body was burned in a brutal act." The Ministry strongly condemned North Korea’s atrocity and urged North Korea to provide an explanation and punish those responsible.