A South Korean official trying to defect to North Korea was killed by troops in the North who set his body on fire for fear he might be carrying the coronavirus, South Korean officials said on Thursday.
President Moon Jae-in of South Korea called the killing a “stunning and deeply regrettable act that cannot be tolerated,” his aides said. The South’s Defense Ministry called it “atrocious” and demanded that the North punish those responsible.
North Korea has yet to comment on the shooting. If confirmed by the North’s officials, it would be the first time that North Korea has killed a South Korean citizen in its territory since 2008. The episode this week threatened to further derail diplomatic ties between the two countries. It also threatened to undermine South Koreans’ support for their government’s recent efforts to improve relations with the North through humanitarian aid.
With all official channels for inter-Korean dialogue cut off since June, the South had few options to force an apology or an explanation from North Korea. (New York Times)