"Hopefully They Will Not Cross the Line," Announces Notice
Rep. Yoon Geon-young Reads Statement in National Assembly
Rep. Yoon Geon-young "Seems Concerned About Using Those Who Served the Nation for Decades for Political Retaliation"
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Former President Moon Jae-in expressed concerns on the 1st regarding the series of investigations related to the West Sea government official killing incident. Former President Moon warned, "The information and circumstances that formed the basis of the judgment have not changed at all, but the conclusion has become completely opposite," and stated, "I deeply worry about the reckless actions that undermine the security system."
Yoon Geon-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced "Former President Moon's position on the investigation of the West Sea government official shooting incident" at a press conference held at the National Assembly on the same day.
Through Yoon, who read the statement on his behalf, former President Moon explained, "The West Sea incident was directly reported to the then-president by the Ministry of National Defense, the Coast Guard, and the National Intelligence Service, and the president gave the final approval of those reports," adding, "At that time, the security departments analyzed all available information and circumstances to estimate the facts within the possible scope, as it was impossible to clearly ascertain the facts, and the president reviewed so-called special intelligence personally before accepting the judgment."
This appears to clarify that former President Moon was the final person responsible for the judgment that the official had voluntarily defected to the North during the West Sea government official shooting incident.
He continued, "When the administration changed, the departments' judgments that had been reported to the president and announced to the media were reversed," pointing out, "The information and circumstances that formed the basis of the judgment have not changed at all, but only the conclusion has become completely opposite." Former President Moon criticized, "A convincing alternative possibility explaining why the victim went into North Korean waters must be presented," and added, "Instead of presenting other possibilities, there are only accusations that the previous announcement was fabricated."
Former President Moon stated, "I deeply worry about the reckless actions that turn security issues into political disputes, trample on the pride of public officials who have devoted many years to national security, and undermine the security system."
He added, "I hope they do not cross the line."
Yoon explained, expressing his personal opinion as a whole, "Previously, unreasonable warrants were requested for former Minister of National Defense Seo Wook and former Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard Kim Hong-hee, but they were released after the court's detention review. Now, there is a substantive review to request a warrant for former National Security Office Director Seo Hoon," and said, "It seems that former President Moon issued his position in this situation." He added, "Despite many facts being revealed through the national audit and the prolonged process about the excessive political retaliation investigation by the Yoon Seok-yeol prosecution, they continue to carry out politically retaliatory investigations against the previous administration."
Yoon further pointed out, "The prosecution seems to be requesting an arrest warrant for former National Security Office Director Seo Hoon, claiming that the victim was forced to defect to the North," and criticized, "If it was not a defection, the prosecution should present what other possibilities exist, but there is no such stance at all. There is a lack of inference or estimation about how the victim ended up going to the North."
Regarding former President Moon's mention of "not crossing the line," Yoon said, "Former Minister Seo is a soldier who served the Republic of Korea for 32 years in uniform, and former Director Seo is an asset of the Republic of Korea who devoted decades to counterintelligence," adding, "I feel a sense of self-reproach about using such people for political retaliation and requesting arrest warrants, and I am worried about the impact this might have on the military and counterintelligence experts currently protecting the Republic of Korea. I infer that this concern might have prompted the statement. However, it is not for me to interpret."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
