Government Provides Key Information to UN Investigation on Murdered Official Case

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The government has provided information through various channels in response to the UN's concerns that it did not sufficiently provide information about the civil servant murder case to the bereaved families.

According to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) website on the 19th, in a response letter sent on the 15th to Thomas Ojea Quintana, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the DPRK, the Coast Guard, which is in charge of investigating the case, met with the civil servant's brother and provided important information about the results of the search and rescue operation.

It also explained that since the incident occurred in North Korean waters, additional information must be secured through joint investigations between the South and North to accurately understand the situation at the time.

Regarding the bereaved families' claim that the government investigation focused more on proving the civil servant's intention to defect to the North, the government stated that determining the motive is important in missing and death cases, and the Coast Guard is considering all possible causes, including the family's claims.

Earlier, the Special Rapporteur Quintana and others expressed concern in a letter dated November 17 last year, relaying the bereaved families' claim that the South Korean government did not provide sufficient and accurate information about the incident.

They also requested the government to explain its position and measures to prevent similar incidents.

The government stated that it will continue efforts to restore mutual communication channels with North Korea, such as military communication lines, to prevent recurrence.

It also said, "We are revising the manual to respond more quickly to similar situations," and "We are focusing on requesting cooperation from North Korea through inter-agency information sharing and available communication networks."

The new manual will include necessary content for requesting North Korea's cooperation in search and rescue operations through communication channels if a South Korean vessel crosses into North Korean waters.

It will also establish grounds for immediate information sharing among relevant agencies in case of distress situations involving civilian vessels or crew in South Korean waters.

The government revealed that it requested North Korea's cooperation through international communication lines when a naval officer went missing at sea near Baengnyeongdo on the 8th.

Additionally, the government explained that it is introducing safety measures such as installing more closed-circuit television (CCTV) to eliminate blind spots on government fishery patrol vessels and providing satellite-based location transmitters to individual crew members.