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Ahn Young-ho, head of operations at the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, announces the death of a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official, who went missing earlier this week in waters near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), at the Ministry of the National Defense on Sept. 24. (Yonhap News)

An official with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) who disappeared near Yeonpyeong Island in the West Sea was confirmed to have been shot dead and set on fire by North Koreans.

On Sept. 24, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) delivered a position statement on the disappearance of the 47-year-old maritime and fisheries secretary under MOF’s West Sea fisheries management team.

“Based on a careful analysis of various intelligence, we confirmed that North Korea committed the atrocity of shooting the South Korean citizen found in their territorial waters and burning his body,” the MND said.

The MND explained that it had received a report from the Korea Coast Guard stating that the official question had been patrolling on an inspection vessel near Yeonpyeong Island when he disappeared around 1 pm on Sept. 21 in waters 1.2 miles south of Lesser Yeonpyeong Island.

Authorities determined that the official was floating in the sea with the objective of defecting to North Korea. They believe that he was shot by North Korean armed guards in accordance with local authorities’ border region disease control guidelines to prevent COVID-19 from entering.

“The military firmly denounces this atrocious act by North Korea and strongly urges North Korea to provide an explanation for its actions and punish those responsible,” the MND said.

“North Korea has been sternly warned that it bears all responsibility for this atrocious act committed against a South Korean citizen,” it added.

The official's colleagues searched the vessel and surrounding waters after he went missing around lunchtime on Sept. 21, and reported his disappearance to authorities after finding only his shoes on the boat.

By Kim Ji-eun, staff reporter

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