[Summary] "Deeply Sorry" Kim Jong-un's Apology... Ruling Party "Shows Change" vs Opposition "Explaining North Korea's Position Instead"

Chairman Kim Jong-un "Apologizes for Disappointing President Moon"
Ruling Party "Cannot Condone Civilian Shooting... But Kim's Apology Differs from Before"
Opposition "Do You Feel Relief at Perpetrator's Explanation?" Rebuttal

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Reactions from ruling and opposition parties diverged over the notification letter in which North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un expressed his apology by saying "I am deeply sorry" regarding the incident where a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official went missing near Yeonpyeongdo and was shot by North Korean soldiers, who then mutilated the body. The Democratic Party of Korea condemned the killing of an unarmed civilian but viewed Kim’s official apology as a "signal of a change in North Korea’s attitude," while the People Power Party criticized it as "the Blue House acting as a spokesperson for North Korea’s position."

On the 25th, Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon said at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary session regarding the notification from North Korea, "Even under the ice, the river flows." This was interpreted to mean that although inter-Korean relations have severely deteriorated due to the shooting and mutilation of the official’s body, positive changes in North Korea’s approach have been detected since then.

Lee said, "Compared to incidents such as the sacrifice of Park Wang-ja, the ax attack at Panmunjom, the Yeonpyeongdo shooting, and the West Sea skirmishes, it seems there has been considerable change in North Korea," adding, "If letters were exchanged, it is likely that their content was not hostile but rather positive. Despite the grave situation in inter-Korean relations, there seems to be some change."

Democratic Party floor spokesperson Hong Jung-min stated in a briefing that "Under no circumstances can the act of shooting an unarmed civilian be tolerated. North Korea must show a responsible attitude by conducting a thorough investigation and announcing measures to prevent recurrence to a level that our citizens can trust," while also noting, "Kim Jong-un conveyed an apology to our people through the notification regarding the civilian killing incident. North Korea’s immediate response and Kim’s direct apology are noteworthy as they differ from previous cases."

Members of the ruling and opposition parties belonging to the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee are watching a press conference on the North Korean notification by Suh Hoon, Director of the National Security Office of the Blue House, ahead of the committee's emergency inquiry on the 25th. / Photo by Yonhap News

On the other hand, the opposition parties expressed skepticism. They argued that the notification was merely a unilateral communication of North Korea’s position without sufficient evidence to support its claims. People Power Party floor spokesperson Choi Hyung-do said, "Is the Blue House a place that reads out the notification from North Korea’s United Front Department on behalf of them?" and questioned, "Why does the Blue House invite suspicion that it is glossing over the incident where a South Korean citizen was brutally shot?"

He continued, "North Korea sent a notification to the Blue House without proper data or contextual explanation, and the Blue House explained it on its own accord," criticizing, "How can the people trust the President and the Blue House under these circumstances?"

People’s Party spokesperson Ahn Hye-jin issued a statement saying, "There is no genuine apology to be found in the notification," and pointed out, "What is clear is that North Korean soldiers fired upon a civilian, and the government should not feel reassured by the perpetrator’s explanation."

She added, "The government must form a joint inter-Korean investigation team to uncover the truth," and urged, "It should sternly demand punishment for those responsible and measures to prevent recurrence from the North."

Kim Jong-un officially apologized in the notification sent to South Korea under the name of the United Front Department regarding the shooting and mutilation incident involving the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official. This came just one day after the South Korean government’s announcement on the incident.

In the notification, Kim Jong-un stated, "Amid the already threatening scourge of the malicious virus (COVID-19), an unfortunate incident occurred in our waters instead of providing help to our southern compatriots," and expressed, "I am deeply sorry for causing great disappointment to President Moon and our compatriots."

On the morning of the 25th, officials from a vessel believed to be a coast guard ship are conducting an investigation on the fishing guidance vessel Mugunghwa 10, which was anchored near Yeonpyeongdo, Ongjin-gun, Incheon, where a missing Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official was on board. / Photo by Yonhap News

Along with Kim Jong-un’s apology, the notification also included the North Korean leadership’s position. The North stated, "Our leadership evaluated that an incident that should not have happened occurred," and added, "To prevent such unfortunate events from recurring, we have strengthened maritime boundary surveillance duties and instructed the establishment of a system to record the entire process of maritime enforcement to avoid minor mistakes or misunderstandings that could lead to serious consequences."

It further stated, "Our leadership repeatedly emphasizes the need to be more vigilant and alert and to devise necessary safety measures so that the trust and respect recently built up, even if only slightly, between the North and South are not destroyed due to this regrettable incident."

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Blue House disclosed the contents of letters exchanged recently between President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un. It was reported that President Moon first sent a letter to the North on the 8th, and Kim Jong-un replied four days later on the 12th.

According to the letter contents revealed by National Security Office Director Suh Hoon, President Moon expressed in his initial letter, "I pay tribute to Chairman Kim’s strong will to respect life," and "I deeply empathize with your direct visits to disaster sites to comfort those in hardship and your leading efforts in recovery."

In response, Kim Jong-un wrote, "Reading the President’s letter, I felt deep compatriot love in every line of comfort," and "I firmly believe in my heart that with the President’s exceptional dedication to the country and his people, as well as his strong will and capability, you will surely overcome this crisis."