[ad_1]
It was on Tuesday that North Korean soldiers found a man on a floating object in North Korean waters. The man is described as a South Korean official who tried to jump into North Korea, but when, according to the North Koreans, he did not identify himself but tried to flee, soldiers shot the man and then burned his body.
Niklas Swanström, The North Korea expert and director of the Institute for Security and Development Policy says the shooting stems from strict North Korean border rules introduced during the corona pandemic.
– It is clear that it seems very aggressive, but I think that in this case it was based a lot on fear. The restrictions are very harsh, it has been said that the border should be closed and the border maintained, due to covid-19 in particular, he says.
– If COVID-19 were to spread in North Korea, it could have huge consequences.
But in a single letter To the President of South Korea, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un apologizes for what he calls the “unfortunate” shooting, according to a statement from the Office of the President of South Korea.
North Korea has not commented on the information about the apology. According to Niklas Swanström, the highly unusual excuse comes in the midst of a time of frozen relations between countries.
– There are no contacts. North Korea has refused to speak to South Korea. The fact that Kim is now sending a letter to President Moon is an indication that he still wants to have some kind of relationship. And now, in this situation, it still seems like an opportunity, says Swanström.
– So the supporters of dialogue get water in his mill now and say that he is probably a person with whom you can still communicate. The letter itself can still be described as very positive, it was quite unexpected I must say.
