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North Korea’s Kim Jong-un makes rare apology to South over killed official
- North Korean officials this week shot and burned the body of a South Korean official who appeared to be trying to defect
- The leader sent a message to Seoul calling the incident ‘unexpected’ and ‘unfortunate’
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has apologised over the killing of a South Korea official who appeared to be trying to defect, Seoul said on Friday.
South Korea’s presidential office said Kim sent them a message conveying an apology, calling the incident “unexpected” and “unfortunate”.
It is extremely unusual for a North Korean leader to apologise to its southern neighbour on any issue.
“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 at a time when South Korea grapples with the coronavirus pandemic,” Moon adviser Suh Hoon cited the message as saying.
In the letter, Pyongyang also acknowledged firing about 10 shots at the man, who had “illegally entered our waters” and refused to properly identify himself.
On Thursday, South Korea accused North Korea of fatally shooting one of its public servants who was likely trying to defect and burning his body, after finding him on a floating object in North Korean waters earlier this week.
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