hankyoreh

By Kim Tae-kyu
　　
The prosecutors of South Korea turned down a conservative organization’s petition to investigate former Korea University Professor Kim Yong-ok, 62, who raised questions about the Cheonan investigation findings. The organization accused Kim of violating the National Security Law.
Prosecutors dismiss a petition to investigate when they determine the accusation to be free of reasonable suspicions without a thorough examination.
Shin Yoo-chul, chief prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office’s First Criminal Department said, “We could not find an action that would constitute a violation of the National Security Law.”
Kim had previously expressed strong distrust for the Joint Civilian-military Investigation Group’s (JIG) investigation results by saying, “I cannot understand even the 0.001 percent of the report. Does North Korea possess that technology?” Kim then said in regards to the time of the incident, “There were two U.S. Aegis destroyers and the Yellow Sea Fleet. The Aegis destroyer is the pinnacle of U.S. Navy military power. Suggesting that a North Korean submersible penetrated these defenses is a joke.” Kim issued these statements during a ceremony hosted by Bongeun Temple.
Meanwhile, the First Public Security Department of Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office has continued its investigation into civic organization People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), which submitted a letter to the U.N. Security Council highlighting problems with the JIG‘s report.
An official of the prosecutors said, “We need to examine legal principles that are associated with this case, so it will take more time for us to reach a decision.”
　　
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