South Korea: Former national security adviser arrested over 2020 case

South Korean authorities arrested the country’s former national security adviser over a 2020 case when a fisheries official was killed by North Korean troops. The former adviser was arrested on suspicions of manipulating the case.

Authorities have arrested former national security adviser Suh Hoon over allegations that he ordered intelligence reports related to the killing of fisheries official Lee Dae-jun by North Korean troops to be deleted. Suh also allegedly manipulated the evidence that would support the claim by the administration of Moon Jae-in that claimed that Lee was attempting to defect to North Korea because of gambling debts, mental health issues, and an unhappy life. Lee’s family refuted the Moon administration’s claims.

The Seoul central district court issued an arrest warrant for Suh on Saturday after a 19-hour deliberation. The court cited the “gravity of the issue, the status of the suspect, and the risk of evidence destruction.” Suh did not respond to questions from reporters when he appeared for the deliberation but has denied any wrongdoing and accused President Yoon Suk-yeol’s administration of political retaliation.

The Yoon administration reversed the claims of the Moon administration, saying that there was no proof of an attempt to defect by Lee. Prosecutors also launched an investigation into Lee’s death and the 2019 case of two North Korean fishermen who were forcibly deported back to North Korea.

The governing People Power Party said Moon and his aides “not only let Lee die but killed his honor by claiming his defection while treading on eggshells around Kim Jong-un’s regime,” referring to the North Korean leader.

Meanwhile, Yoon on Monday renewed his pledge to invest government resources into boosting exports. In his remarks for annual Trade Day, Yoon said that exports have been and remain the basis of the country’s economy and employment. Yoon said that his administration will work to make South Korea the fifth-largest exporter in the world by 2026.

Yoon said that the government will “help companies find swift resolution of difficulties in undertaking exports and winning contracts” and that it will also expand financial and administrative support for exporters. The South Korean government will also seek to expand its network of free-trade agreements in other parts of the world.