Each Defendant Claims Innocence,
Calling It a "Yoon Administration Defection Framing Investigation"
The first trial arguments for the security officials of the Moon Jae-in administration, who are accused of covering up the "West Sea government official shooting incident" that occurred in September 2020, concluded on the 5th. The verdict is scheduled to be delivered at 2 p.m. on the 26th of next month.
Former National Security Office Director Suh Hoon, who was prosecuted on charges of attempting to cover up the shooting of a government official that occurred in the West Sea in September 2020, is attending the closing arguments session held at the Seoul Central District Court on the 5th. Photo by Yonhap News
The 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ji Guyoun) held the closing arguments session for former National Security Office Director Suh Hoon, former National Intelligence Service Director Park Jie-won, former Minister of National Defense Suh Wook, former Commissioner General of the Korea Coast Guard Kim Honghee, and former Chief of Staff of the National Intelligence Service Noh Eunchae.
The prosecution requested a four-year prison sentence for former Director Suh. For former Director Park, the prosecution sought two years in prison and a two-year suspension of qualifications. A three-year prison sentence was requested for former Minister Suh as well.
The prosecution stated, "The defendants, as high-ranking public officials, abused their authority to conceal their mistakes, deleted official electronic records, and then falsely labeled the citizen who was shot and incinerated as a defector to North Korea. This is a grave crime that deceived the public and socially ostracized the bereaved family."
Regarding former Director Suh, the prosecution emphasized, "He should have acted as the control tower during a national crisis, but took no action. Despite knowing about the shooting and incineration, he planned and led the cover-up, bearing the ultimate responsibility for this case."
About former Director Park, the prosecution pointed out, "As the head of the agency responsible for gathering intelligence on North Korea, he actively participated in the cover-up plan led by the National Security Office Director."
For former Minister Suh, the prosecution stated, "As the person responsible for military command and supervision, he was informed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff that our citizen had been discovered, but failed to take any measures necessary for rescue."
In addition, the prosecution sought a three-year prison sentence for former Commissioner General Kim and a one-year prison sentence along with a one-year suspension of qualifications for former Chief of Staff Noh.
During the final arguments, the defense attorneys for each defendant argued that this case was a "defector to North Korea fabrication" investigation orchestrated by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, insisting on their clients' innocence.
The first trial verdict will be announced at 2 p.m. on the 26th of next month. It comes three years after the indictment in December 2022.
Former Director Suh is accused of ordering the concealment of the incident by instructing security maintenance to Joint Chiefs of Staff officials and former Commissioner General Kim at a meeting of related ministers on September 23, 2020, after confirming intelligence that the late Lee Daejun, an official of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, had been killed by North Korean soldiers on September 22, 2020.
Former Director Suh is also accused of ordering the Korea Coast Guard to distribute false press releases as if they were searching for Mr. Lee, and of instructing the Ministry of National Defense and the Coast Guard to prepare and distribute reports and press materials to fabricate the narrative of defection to North Korea.
Former Director Park, former Minister Suh, and former Chief of Staff Noh were indicted on charges of cooperating with this security maintenance policy and instructing National Intelligence Service and Ministry of National Defense staff to delete related intelligence and documents.
On this day, Lee Raejin, the brother of the late Lee Daejun, also appeared in court. He stated, "Former President Moon Jae-in claimed in a public address that there was no channel to communicate with North Korea, so rescue and repatriation requests could not be made. However, as the president and commander-in-chief, isn't this an irresponsible and incompetent statement that deceived the public?"
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