'Suspects of forced repatriation to North Korea' Noh Young-min, former chief of staff, investigated for 12 hours

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Prosecutors are also continuing the investigation targeting the Blue House of the last government.

In connection with the allegation of forcible repatriation of North Korean fishermen from North Korea that occurred three years ago, former President Roh Young-min, the former chief of staff, was investigated by the prosecution for over 12 hours.

This is reporter Park Ha-jeong.

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Two North Koreans who were captured during a confrontation with the South Korean navy after killing 16 fellow sailors in the East Sea expressed their intention to defect in writing, but were sent to North Korea in five days.

Prosecutors summoned former Chief of Staff Roh Young-min as the accused yesterday (19th) to determine the timing of their decision to repatriate them to North Korea and investigated them for about 12 and a half hours.

Prosecutors are known to have questioned former Chief of Staff Roh about whether the decision to repatriate to North Korea was made at the Blue House countermeasures meeting held two days after the capture, what was the background, and whether there were specific instructions from superiors.

At the time, the Blue House and government officials claimed that they judged that the intention to defect was not sincere as heinous criminals who killed 16 fellow sailors, but the prosecution believes that the legal basis for the deportation decision is insufficient.

After the investigation, Roh said, "The lives and safety of our people come first." "To make even security, such as inter-Korean relations based on the national interest, as a target of political retaliation against the former government, would be putting my foot in my axe." stated its position.

As the summons investigation of Blue House officials began in earnest about a month after the summoning of former Unification Minister Kim Yeon-cheol, it is expected that the Blue House security line will be summoned soon, including Chung Eui-yong, then head of the National Security Office of the Blue House, and Seo Hoon, former head of the National Intelligence Service.