South Korea demands apology from North Korea 0:49
SEOUL (CNN) -
Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, has apologized for the death of a South Korean government worker who was shot dead by North Korean soldiers after crossing a maritime border between the two countries.
In a letter sent to South Korea's Blue House on Friday morning, North Korea said units responded to a call that an unidentified man was found floating on an object in the sea.
The letter claims that around 10 rounds were fired at the man after he failed to comply with a soldier's demand for identification and subsequent warning shots.
Pool of blood
North Korea says only a pool of blood remained on the floating object after they fired.
When soldiers assumed the man was dead, they burned the floating object at the site under North Korea's covid-19 prevention measures.
“President Kim Jong Un asked to convey that he is very sorry that instead of providing help to our compatriots in the south who are struggling with the covid epidemic, we have given President Moon and our compatriots in the south a great disappointment with this disgrace unnoticed in our sea, "says the letter, according to the Blue House.
The statement adds that North Korea has strengthened its maritime surveillance and apologized for "an incident that will clearly negatively impact the inter-Korean relationship."
Attempted desertion
According to Lt. Gen. Ahn Young-ho, a senior official in the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, a worker from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries disappeared in waters 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles) south of the Yeonpyeong Islands. on September 21.
South Korean defense officials previously said they believed the man was in the process of attempting to defect to North Korea.
In a statement Thursday, the South Korean military said it "strongly condemns the atrocities in the North" and urged Pyongyang to provide an explanation and punish those responsible.
Tension on the rise with Kim Jong Un
Tensions have risen between North and South Korea since communication between the two sides was cut off in June.
So Pyongyang first shut down and then blew up a joint liaison office in Kaesong, a city on the northern side of the border.
The deterioration in relations came after a years-long rapprochement led by South Korean President Moon Jae-in resulted in historic meetings between him and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Also in summits between Kim and the president of the United States, Donald Trump.
But those meetings ultimately did not yield meaningful results for all parties.
North Korea has taken an increasingly strident tone toward its southern neighbor, a change in stance that came as Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, assumed a more influential position in the country's regime.
Speaking on Thursday, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa said the offer of dialogue to North Korea remains open and Seoul is ready to engage with Pyongyang.
In the weeks leading up to the shooting, Kim had exchanged letters with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the Blue House said.
Kim jong un
