North Korea apologizes to South Korea for shooting and burning official

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday apologized for the killing of a South Korean official near the disputed maritime boundary of rivals and said he “deeply regrets” the “unexpected” and “unfortunate” incident, South Korean officials said.

It is extremely unusual for a North Korean leader to apologize for rivaling South Korea on any issue.

Kim’s apology was expected to ease anti-North sentiments in South Korea and mounting criticism of South Korean President Moon Jae-in for the man’s death this week.

“Comrade Kim Jong Un, chairman of the State Affairs Commission, is very sorry for giving great disappointment to President Moon Jae-in and South Korean citizens because an unexpected and unfortunate incident occurred” at a time when South Korea is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, Moon Advisor Suh Hoon quoted North Korea’s message as saying.

On Thursday, South Korea accused North Korea of ​​fatally shooting one of its public servants who was likely trying to defect and burning his body after finding him on a floating object in North Korean waters earlier this week.

South Korean officials condemned North Korea for what they called an “heinous act” and pressed for it to punish those responsible.

According to the North Korean message, North Korean troops first fired blank bullets after the man did not fully explain why he was there, rather than saying that he is from South Korea.

Then, he showed movements to flee, prompting North Korean troops to fire 10 rounds. When the troops approached the man’s floating object, they only found a lot of blood on the floating object, and the man was not seen.

Troops determined he was dead and burned the floating object in accordance with the coronavirus rules, according to the North Korean message read by Suh.

Senior South Korean military official Ahn Young Ho told the lawmaker on Wednesday that North Korea fatally shot the official, likely in line with lofty anti-coronavirus rules that involve “indiscriminate shooting” at anyone illegally approaching its borders.

Defense Minister Suh Wook said the official is believed to have tried to defect because he left his shoes on the ship, donned a life jacket and resorted to a floating object when he was found in North Korean waters.

Suh also cited unidentified circumstantial evidence indicating the official’s attempted desertion. Some experts were not enough to conclude that the official tried to defect.

– AP