North Korean soldiers shot dead a suspected South Korean defector after interrogating him at sea, and burned his body over coronavirus fears, Seoul military officials said Thursday.
The man had disappeared off a patrol vessel near the western border island of Yeonpyeong, the South Korean defence ministry said in a statement.
He was wearing a lifejacket, a military official told AFP, adding that “circumstances tell us that there was an intent to defect”, without providing evidence.
According to the South’s Yonhap news agency, the man was located by North Korean forces and questioned from a boat by an official wearing protective equipment.
The killing took place after an “order from superior authority”, Yonhap cited South Korean officials as saying.
Seoul’s defence ministry condemned the shooting as an “outrageous act”.
“We sternly warn North Korea that all responsibilities for this…