[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The Board of Audit and Inspection announced on the 19th that it has launched an on-site audit of nine agencies, including the National Security Office, Ministry of National Defense, and Korea Coast Guard, to verify the reporting and handling process of the West Sea government official killing incident.
The Board of Audit and Inspection began collecting data from the Coast Guard and the Ministry of National Defense on the 17th of last month. The on-site audit is a stage where the Board, having gathered preliminary data, visits the target agencies and sites directly to conduct the audit.
The audit target agencies have increased to nine, including the National Security Office, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Ministry of Unification, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Intelligence Service, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Korea Coast Guard, and Naval Headquarters.
The Board's Special Investigation Division 1 will conduct on-site audits at these agencies for five weeks from today until the 23rd of next month, aiming to verify whether the handling process related to the West Sea government official killing incident was lawful and appropriate.
The Board is focusing on investigating the initial reporting process of the case involving Lee Dae-jun, a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official who died after being shot by North Korean soldiers while drifting in the West Sea in September 2020, and whose body was subsequently burned. It is also examining the circumstances under which it was concluded and announced that Lee attempted to defect to North Korea.
Additionally, the Board is examining signs that classified information was deleted from the military intelligence network. Through computer forensics of Ministry of National Defense personnel, it is verifying what information was initially reported regarding the killing incident and whether there were any orders to delete such information.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
