Kim Jong-un Sends "Sorry" Notice... Yoo Si-min Says "Kim Jong-un's Leadership Resembles an Enlightened Monarch"

Yoo Si-min "Consider Some Progress as Good News We Hoped For"
Moon Jung-in "Chairman Kim Jong-un Must Explain Orally Himself"
Jung Se-hyun "Regret for Victims' Families... Opportunity for Turning Crisis into Chance"

Yoo Si-min, chairman of the People Living Together Foundation and the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, appeared as the host of the YouTube broadcast "10.4 North-South Summit Declaration 13th Anniversary Talk" on the 25th. / Photo by YouTube screen capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Regarding the incident in which a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official who went missing near Yeonpyeongdo was shot by North Korean soldiers and whose body was mutilated, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un sent a letter of apology on the 25th saying "I am very sorry." In response, Yoo Si-min, director of the People’s Life Foundation and former Minister of Health and Welfare, gave a positive evaluation, calling it "good news."

Director Yoo appeared as the moderator of the "10.4 Inter-Korean Joint Declaration 13th Anniversary Commemoration Talk," which was broadcast live on the official YouTube channel of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation starting at 1:30 p.m. that day.

During the discussion, around 2 p.m., Suh Hoon, Director of the National Security Office at the Blue House, announced the letter sent from the North Korean side. In the letter, issued under the name of the United Front Department, Chairman Kim expressed, "Instead of helping our southern compatriots, an unfortunate incident occurred in our waters," and apologized, saying, "I deeply regret causing great disappointment to President Moon and our compatriots."

Regarding this, Director Yoo said, "Everyone expressed the hope during the discussion that the incident in the northern waters near Yeonpyeongdo would become a turning point," adding, "Although it may not have been because of listening to this broadcast, in any case, the partial progress we hoped for can be regarded as good news, so let’s continue the discussion."

Moon Jung-in, Special Advisor to the President on Unification, Diplomacy, and Security / Photo by YouTube Capture

Moon Jung-in, Special Advisor to the President on Unification, Diplomacy, and National Security, and Chung Se-hyun, Senior Vice Chairman of the Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, who attended the discussion, also interpreted the North Korean letter as a "positive signal."

Special Advisor Moon emphasized, "If North Korea moves toward becoming a normal state through this opportunity, it must show a changed appearance," adding, "Since June 3, all communication lines have been cut off, but the arrival of this letter at the Blue House means that the communication lines have effectively been restored."

However, he stressed the need for Chairman Kim’s verbal explanation regarding the shooting and mutilation of the official. Special Advisor Moon said, "Chairman Kim should personally explain the circumstances and express regret directly to President Moon Jae-in and reestablish inter-Korean relations," pointing out, "Strictly speaking, this incident is not a violation of the September 19 Inter-Korean Military Agreement, but it is true that it violates the spirit of the September 19 agreement."

He continued, "They say a turning point has come, but what the North must do now is hold a summit related to the June destruction of the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office and this incident," emphasizing, "If the inter-Korean leaders do not create inter-Korean consultations to resolve the nuclear issue and establish a peace regime before the U.S. presidential election in November, all efforts so far will have been in vain."

Jung Se-hyun, Senior Vice Chairman of the National Unification Advisory Council / Photo by YouTube Capture

Vice Chairman Chung said, "I emphasize the fact that Chairman Kim personally expressed regret about this," interpreting it positively as "a behavior that the North has not shown before. It is somewhat different from the Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung eras, showing a magnanimous aspect."

He added, "It is regrettable and unfortunate for the late Mr. Lee and his family," but stressed, "It can be a turning point. How we revive this spark is important."

Director Yoo also analyzed that the North Korean letter shows Chairman Kim’s changed "governing style." Yoo said, "Chairman Kim’s leadership style is different from before," adding, "He really is an enlightened monarch with a philosophy and vision for change, but due to difficulties in his position, he may be adjusting the tempo. To me, he seems like an enlightened monarch."