South Korea investigates reports of missing government official found in North Korean waters
- The 47-year-old from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries disappeared on Monday from a South Korean vessel near the border
- Meanwhile, South Korean president Moon Jae-in has urged the UN and the international community to support an inter-Korean peace treaty
The 47-year-old official from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries disappeared from a government vessel that oversees South Korean fishing boats operating near the sea border off the country’s western coast before noon on Monday.
Colleagues found only his shoes on the vessel and reported his disappearance to the coastguard, prompting an intensive search operation.
“According to military intelligence, he was apparently found in North Korean waters late Tuesday and we are following this clue,” the ministry said in its statement. “We will take necessary steps, including investigating how he went missing and checking related facts with North Korea.”
Forget the US, Japan’s Yoshihide Suga should visit South Korea first to mend ties
“The end of war declaration will, indeed, open the door to complete denuclearisation and permanent peace regime on the Korean peninsula,” he said in a speech during the video-linked UN General Assembly meeting held in New York.