US State Department Fully Supports South Korea's Condemnation of North Korea's Killing of Official

Emphasis on Close US-ROK Coordination
US North Korea Human Rights Commission Criticizes "No Country Takes Lives Due to COVID-19"

Mugunghwa 10, the Fisheries Guidance Vessel on which the missing Yeonpyeong Island public official was aboard [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The U.S. Department of State announced on the 24th (local time) that it fully supports South Korea's position regarding the incident in which North Korea shot and burned a missing South Korean government official in the West Sea.

When asked about the State Department's stance on North Korea shooting and burning the South Korean official, the spokesperson said, "We fully support our ally South Korea's condemnation of this act and the demand for a complete explanation from North Korea."

This appears to emphasize the close cooperation maintained between South Korea and the U.S. in response to South Korea's firm and principled stance on the matter.

The U.S. non-governmental organization Human Rights Network for North Korea (HRNK) also condemned, stating, "No country cruelly takes innocent lives and burns bodies under the pretext of preventing the novel coronavirus infection."

According to military authorities, a 47-year-old male official of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' fisheries guidance ship was found by a North Korean vessel in the West Sea on the 22nd, one day after his disappearance was reported, and the North Korean military shot and burned the body.

Earlier, the Ministry of National Defense announced that the fisheries guidance ship official belonging to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, who went missing on the 21st near Soyeonpyeongdo, the northernmost island in the West Sea, was found in North Korean waters, and it was confirmed that North Korea shot and burned the body.

The Blue House also stated that President Moon Jae-in said, "This is a shocking incident and very regrettable. It cannot be tolerated for any reason," and urged, "The North Korean authorities must provide a responsible response and take action."

Foreign media predicted that this incident could further complicate the already strained inter-Korean relations.