Military Authorities: No Information on 'Final Commander' of North Korea Shooting Incident

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]The military authorities stated on the 25th that they "do not have information on who ultimately gave the order" regarding some media reports claiming that the North Korean Navy Commander ordered the shooting.

Regarding the military authorities' announcement the previous day that the shooting appeared to have been carried out under "higher-level orders within the naval chain," they explained, "The naval command part was assessed and understood as an act carried out under 'higher-level orders' after comprehensively analyzing related information and intelligence." Although orders were issued through the Naval Command, it is interpreted to mean that the military authorities have not identified the 'final approver.'

Some speculate that considering inter-Korean relations, the orders and decisions likely came from 'Pyongyang' beyond the North Korean Naval Command.

When asked whether there are plans to search for and recover the deceased's body, which is presumed to have been burned and abandoned at sea, a military official replied, "Since it is at sea, there are limitations in pinpointing the location, and we do not have information on any additional measures taken by the North after mutilating the body," but added, "We are conducting search activities with related agencies regarding the parts that can be estimated."

Additionally, regarding the notification sent to North Korea through the United Nations Command on the 23rd, it was reported that North Korea has not responded as of today, and there are currently no plans to send further notifications.