Apology issued in fatal shooting

SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un apologized Friday over the killing of a South Korea official who was apparently trying to defect near the rivals’ disputed sea boundary, saying he’s “very sorry” about the incident, South Korean officials said.

It’s extremely unusual for a North Korean leader to apologize to South Korea on any issue, and Kim’s move will likely lower tensions between the Koreas.

“Comrade Kim Jong Un, the State Affairs Commission chairman, feels very sorry to give big disappointment to President Moon Jaein and South Korean citizens because an unexpected, unfortunate incident happened,” Moon adviser Suh Hoon cited the North Korean message as saying.

South Korea earlier accused North Korea of fatally shooting one of its civil servants who was likely trying to defect and burning his body after finding him on a floating object in North Korean waters on Tuesday. South Korean officials condemned what they called an “atrocious act” and pressed North Korea to punish those responsible.

According to the North Korean message, North Korean troops first fired blanks after the man refused to answer other than saying he’s from South Korea. Then, as he made moves to flee, the North Korean troops fired 10 rounds.

The troops determined the man was dead and burned the floating object in line with anticoronavirus rules, according to the North Korean message read by Suh.

Senior South Korean military officer Ahn Young Ho told a parliamentary committee meeting that North Korea killed the man likely because of elevated anticoronavirus measures that involve “indiscriminate shooting” at anyone approaching its borders illegally.

Defense Minister Suh Wook said at the same meeting that the official was believed to have tried to defect because he left his shoes on the ship, put on a life jacket and boarded the floating object. Suh also cited circumstantial evidence indicating the defection attempt.