Chairman of the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly: "Judgment of Defection to North Korea Based on Comprehensive US Intelligence... Low Possibility of Joint Investigation"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Min Hong-cheol, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly, stated, "The possibility of North Korea agreeing to a joint investigation is extremely low."

On the 28th, Min appeared on TBS Radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' and said, "Considering that (the North) yesterday also warned about territorial waters intrusion, and looking at past cases, the possibility is extremely low."

The government held an emergency security-related ministers' meeting chaired by President Moon Jae-in the day before and officially requested North Korea for a joint investigation regarding the North Korean shooting death incident.

When the host asked, "Isn't North Korea's position to conduct separate investigations?" Min emphasized, "They might conduct separate investigations and then decide what to do with the results, but I believe the possibility of agreeing to a joint investigation is extremely low."

Regarding the controversial circumstances of defection to the North, he said, "The South Korean and U.S. government (intelligence) assets are compiling, sharing, and assessing the information," adding, "It was caught on intelligence. It was clearly judged by intelligence that there was an intention to defect." The Ministry of National Defense also speculates that the North expected to rescue the deceased Mr. Lee. Min said, "He was managed and dragged for three hours, so it seems they thought it was a rescue process." About the specific details of the intelligence, he said, "I have not been briefed. It is very high-level intelligence."

He explained that the North lost Mr. Lee at sea for about two hours but found him again, and after the North Korean military took custody, shooting suddenly occurred. Min said, "The North Korean military received him and was reporting to their superiors when suddenly they were ordered to 'open fire,' so a high-speed boat came. I was informed by the Ministry of National Defense that the high-speed boat came and fired shots."

Regarding the controversy over President Moon's response, he said, "On the 23rd, at 1 a.m., a meeting of related ministers was convened and discussions continued until almost 2:30 a.m., and a tentative judgment was made on the matter," adding, "A face-to-face briefing was given on the morning of the 23rd. Since they were aware, it does not seem that there was a failure to report or negligence."