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Prosecutors are also investigating the allegation of forcible repatriation of North Korean defectors to North Korea.
Yesterday (19th), former Chief of Staff Roh Young-min was investigated by the prosecution for over 12 hours in relation to this case.
By Park Ha-jeong, staff reporter.
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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 the North in five days.
Prosecutors summoned former Chief of Staff Roh Young-min as the accused yesterday to investigate the timing of their decision to repatriate them to North Korea for 12 and a half hours.
Prosecutors are known to have questioned former Chief of Staff Roh as to 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 claim that they judged that they had no sincerity in their intention to defect 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." stated its position.
About a month after the summoning of former Unification Minister Kim Yeon-cheol, the summons investigation of Blue House officials began in earnest.