In a very unusual development, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has apologized to his South Korean counterpart President Moon Jae-in for the killing of a South Korean official in disputed waters. Jong Un reportedly said that he is “very sorry” his men shot and killed a South Korean official who was possibly defecting from his country and was seen on a floating vessel.
Jong Un called the incident tragic and unfortunate, and political analysts said the most unexpected apology may placate the South over their distrust and hatred for the North Korean leader. It is also expected to de-escalate the conflict between both countries and work for peace and cooperation.
“Comrade Kim Jong Un, the State Affairs Commission chairman, feels very sorry to give big disappointment to President Moon Jae-in and South Korean citizens because an unexpected, unfortunate incident happened,” President Moon adviser, Suh Hoon, said quoting the apology message from North Korea.
Although South Korea called the killing of the 42-year-old father of two an “atrocious act,” North Korea said it would not be offended by the unsavory language and said an apology was still in place.
According to reports, North Korean soldiers had seen the Southern official floating on an object in North Korean waters and then ordered him to identify himself. The floating man reportedly shouted twice that he was from South Korea and when he would not offer more answers, 10 rounds of blanks were fired at him. But when the soldiers reached his floating object, the man had sunk and blood was everywhere in the water.
In order to curtail the spread of COVID-19 to his country, North Korean leader Jung Un had reportedly ordered that anyone has seen at the country’s border is shot. And the troops had likely fired at the official out of fear that he could be coronavirus infected and trying to bring the disease into the North.
The coast guard from South Korea combed the waters close to the boundary with the North in hopes of recovering the man’s body, but they have not found him yet. Officials also said they are investigating the man by searching his phone records and bank accounts as well as insurance programs to determine if he actually wanted to defect to North Korea or had some other ulterior motives in mind. Not much about the man is revealed for now until officials conclude their investigations.
Source: foxnews.com
