Munsungmuk: "North Korea's Apology, Anyway It's Like Saying Sorry... Fact-Finding and Prevention of Recurrence Are More Important"

Munsungmuk, head of the Unification Strategy Center at the Korea National Strategy Institute, and Jeong Daejin, professor at the Unification Research Institute of Ajou University, speaking on Yonhap News TV's "News Focus" on the 26th
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Hana Na] On the 26th, Moon Seong-mook of the Korea Institute for National Unification's Unification Strategy Center and Professor Jeong Dae-jin of Ajou University’s Unification Research Institute appeared on Yonhap News TV's 'News Focus' and said, "North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's swift apology is unusual," adding, "Above all, a thorough investigation between South and North Korea is necessary." Moon also insisted, "Institutional measures to prevent recurrence must also be established."

Regarding Kim Jong-un’s unusual apology for the 'shooting death of the missing public official,' Moon pointed out issues with sincerity, saying, "When apologizing, one should say 'I am sorry because I was wrong,' but looking at the message sent by Kim, it says, 'We did nothing wrong. You are mistaken. But anyway, sorry,' which raises questions about its genuineness."

Professor Jeong commented on Kim’s prompt apology, saying, "While accepting the apology with a sense of regret, we should understand it as a sincere apology and focus on fact-finding to lead inter-Korean relations. Too many new issues have arisen. There should be a joint investigation between South and North Korea, and if necessary, an international-level investigation to clarify the facts and demonstrate what happens if our people are harmed."

He continued, "A fact-finding investigation must be conducted, which is possible if the site is preserved, but currently, there is no body and recovery is difficult. A joint investigation that can verify the credibility of both sides is necessary, but this will be difficult. If there is no inter-Korean agreement, an international-level investigation should be conducted to clarify the facts," emphasizing the need for fact-finding again.

Opinions between the North and South regarding the fact-finding differ. The Blue House National Security Council (NSC) stated at the standing committee meeting on the evening of the 25th, "The intelligence from the North is very different." Our military claims that the North shot Mr. A, who was floating on debris, and then burned the body. Additionally, military authorities suggest the possibility of Mr. A (47), a fisheries guidance officer, defecting to the North based on the fact that he was wearing a life jacket, abandoned his shoes when leaving the guidance ship, and moved on a small floating object.

On the other hand, the North, through a notification sent to the Blue House, identified Mr. A as an illegal intruder and claimed that only the floating object was burned.