By Spencer Neale
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/author/spencer-neale
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un apologized for the death of a South Korean official who was shot and killed along the sea boundary between the two nations.
Suh Hoon, an adviser to South Korean President Moon Jae-in, described the message received by officials from North Korea following the death of an official, who the South Korean government now says was likely attempting to defect.
“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,” the adviser said.
North Korean officials admitted their military shot the man who was seen floating on an object in boundary waters between the two nations on Tuesday, noting that blank rounds were fired after he refused to cooperate with their questions, followed by live rounds when the man attempted to flee.
The identity of the man was not immediately clear.
During a parliamentary committee meeting on Thursday, senior South Korean military officer Ahn Young-ho said he believes North Korea killed the official because of safety issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic.
The apology from the North Korean government is an unlikely offering of peace and could be an important step as the two nations move closer diplomatically.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/kim-jong-un-apologizes-following-shooting-death-of-south-korean-official