President Moon: "No matter the division situation, it is a regrettable incident that should never happen"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seul-gi] President Moon Jae-in described the killing of Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official Lee, who was killed in the West Sea, as "a regrettable and unfortunate incident that should never have happened, no matter the division situation," while Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, criticized this on the 28th, calling it "a truly cruel consolation from the president."
On the same day, Ha posted on his Facebook, saying, "There are three lines of consolation for the bereaved families, but ten lines of praise for Kim Jong-un. Praise for Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, is three times the consolation."
He added, "President Moon offered condolences to the bereaved families six days after our official was shot, saying he would use it as an opportunity for inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation. That is truly cruel consolation," he pointed out.
He continued, "Before evaluating Chairman Kim's promptness, President Moon should have reflected on his own non-response and delayed response and asked for forgiveness," adding, "He should have promised to find the body and allow a proper funeral. He should have vowed to hold accountable the person who shot and burned our exhausted citizen."
He also claimed, "The president did not issue a rescue order after receiving a report of the official's survival. Even though letters were exchanged with North Korea, no effort was made to rescue through that channel."
Earlier, President Moon said at the Blue House senior secretaries and aides meeting, "Regardless of the circumstances that led the victim to the North Korean waters, I offer my deep condolences and sympathy," adding, "I fully understand the shock and anger felt by the people. Regardless of the reasons, the government feels deeply sorry," and apologized.
Meanwhile, according to a key official from the Ministry of National Defense on the same day, it was revealed that North Korea was aware of circumstances that appeared to be a rescue process for a considerable time after initially discovering Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official Lee.
The official explained, "A low-level operative collecting intelligence noticed it. It took considerable time to verify this intelligence as credible, analyze the content, and report it up to the military leadership."
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