Seoul: Former top security officials from the administration of ex-President Moon Jae-in have been acquitted of charges related to an alleged cover-up of the 2020 murder of a South Korean fisheries official by North Korea. The Seoul Central District Court delivered its verdict on Friday, finding them not guilty due to insufficient evidence.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the court's decision involved former National Security Adviser Suh Hoon, former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Park Jie-won, and former Defense Minister Suh-wook. They were accused of attempting to conceal the incident involving the official, Lee Dae-jun, who was shot by North Korean soldiers near the maritime border in the Yellow Sea. His death was followed by the burning of his body by the North.

The prosecution's case was based on the assertion that the Moon administration labeled Lee as a defector to mitigate potential diplomatic tensions. However, the court found no substantial motive for the cover-up, emphasizing that the administration had been instructed to disclose verified facts to the public. "By the prosecution's arguments, it would mean they disobeyed the president's orders, which is difficult to accept," the court bench remarked.

The court also dismissed the notion that the defendants had intentionally misrepresented the incident as a defection. It highlighted the decision was made under limited information, suggesting the defection judgment, although possibly incorrect, was made in good faith.

In response to the acquittal, the former national security adviser and the former spy chief expressed relief, with the latter advocating for reforms to prevent the politicization of prosecutorial and intelligence activities. However, Lee's brother, who was present at the hearing, criticized the ruling as "nonsensical" and expressed intent to challenge it.

The case gained renewed attention with the inception of President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration in 2022, prompting a state audit agency to urge a prosecution investigation. Charges against the officials included orders to withhold information about Lee's death and alleged instructions to delete intelligence and documents linked to the case.

Prosecutors had sought varying prison terms for the accused, including a four-year term for Suh Hoon. The court's acquittal has thus brought a controversial chapter in inter-Korean relations to a close, at least for the time being.