North Korean President, Kim Jong-un has given a rare apology for the killing of a South Korean official, according to the South Korean Presidential office.
Kim is said to have told his South Korean counterpart, Moon Jae-in that the killing should not have happened.
According to the report issued by BBC South Korea said the 47-year old man was allegedly trying to defect to North Korea when he was found by troops floating in the North’s waters.
Seoul said he was then shot dead and his body was set alight.
The border between North and South Koreas are highly policed, and the North is alleged to have a “shoot-to-kill” policy to prevent coronavirus from encroaching into the country.
The officials said the apology from Kim came in form of a letter to President Moon and acknowledged that the unfortunate event should not have occurred.
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According to reported news agency Yonhap that quoted the Blue House, Kim said he felt “very sorry” for “disappointing” President Moon.
North Korean also issued more details of the incident, stating that 10 shots were fired at the official.
The North’s National Director of Security Suh Hoon, however, clarified that it had not burned the man’s body but rather the “floating material” that was carrying him.
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