South Korean man killed by North Korean sailors was trying to defect, says Seoul

Yoon Seong-hyun, head of the Korea Coast Guard’s investigation bureau, speaks during a briefing at the agency in Incheon, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. South Korea said Tuesday that a government official slain by North Korean sailors wanted to defect, concluding that the man, who had gambling debts, swam against unfavorable currents with the help of a life jacket and a floatation device and conveyed his intention of resettling in North Korea. (Yun Hyun-tae/Yonhap via AP)

South Korea has said a government official killed by North Korean sailors wanted to defect, concluding that the man, who had gambling debts, had conveyed his intention of resettling in the North.

It is unclear whether the announcement will soothe mounting questions about the man’s death last week. The official’s brother dismissed the assessment as “fiction”, accusing the government of inventing a defection attempt after failing to rescue him.