Opposition holds first discussion with Ministry of National Defense and Coast Guard in West Sea Officials TF... "Signs of Presidential Office Security Office involvement"

TF "Coast Guard Result Overturned Due to Lack of Physical Evidence"
Press Conference Tomorrow Morning to Announce Details

Kim Byung-joo, head of the West Sea Civil Servant Death Incident Task Force of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the first TF meeting held at the National Assembly on the 28th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The Democratic Party of Korea has launched a task force (TF) on the West Sea Public Official Death Incident and held its first meeting. The Democratic Party explained that the recent reversal by the Coast Guard of the military authorities' announcement of defection to North Korea was due to the inability to secure evidence. They also claimed that the Presidential Office's National Security Office was involved in this judgment.

The Democratic Party's West Sea Public Official Death Incident TF held its first meeting on the 28th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. Attendees included Representative Kim Byung-joo, a former deputy commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command and head of the TF; Representative Yoon Gun-young, former Chief of the Blue House Office of National Affairs under the Moon Jae-in administration; Representative Kim Byung-gi, former Democratic Party secretary of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee during the 21st National Assembly's first half; as well as Representatives Kim Min-ki, Hwang Hee, Yoon Je-gap, Lee Yong-seon, former Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Boo Seung-chan, and officials from the Ministry of National Defense and the Coast Guard.

Kim Byung-joo, who leads the TF, stated, "The Democratic Party had not actively responded to this incident considering the pain of the bereaved families and the vulnerability to national security. However, the People Power Party formed a TF and turned it into a political dispute, pushing patience to its limit. That is why our party decided to form a TF," explaining the purpose.

After the meeting, Representative Kim told reporters, "The Coast Guard overturned its final investigation conclusion," adding, "The reason for the reversal was that they could not secure physical evidence." He explained, "For example, they needed to secure all physical evidence such as the victim public official's floating debris, the life jacket he was wearing, and the original SI (Special Intelligence) documents, but since the physical evidence was not secured, they could not judge it as guilty and had no choice but to reverse the judgment. They said that the information they heard and reviewed two years ago is now difficult to trust." On the other hand, the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that they still trust the SI information from that time.

He also interpreted that the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff respected the Coast Guard's announcement because the Coast Guard was the main investigative body. He explained, "To change the result, they would have to review and reassess the intelligence judgment from two years ago, but they did not do so because they trust the judgment from that time, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff."

Representative Kim also mentioned that there are indications of involvement by the Presidential Office's National Security Office regarding this matter. He said, "On June 16, the Coast Guard and the Ministry of National Defense held a joint press conference to announce the results. There are indications that the National Security Office reviewed such materials and discussed related matters. The TF will investigate further and reveal more details." The TF plans to disclose related information at a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the morning of the 29th.