SEOUL: Seoul prosecutors have opened an unprecedented probe into North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister over Pyongyang's blowing up of a liaison office last month, officials said on Thursday (Jul 16).
The move is likely to infuriate the nuclear-armed North, which has repeatedly condemned South Korea in recent months, including directing personal insults at President Moon Jae-in.
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Seoul Central District prosecutors received a criminal complaint against Kim Yo Jong from a Seoul-based lawyer and had started an investigation, a spokeswoman told AFP.
READ: Kim's sister says 'no need' for another US-North Korea summit
Last month, Pyongyang blew up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border, days after Kim Yo Jong – one of her brother's closest advisers – had said the "useless" property would soon be seen "completely collapsed".
Before the demolition, it had issued a series of vitriolic condemnations of South Korea over anti-North leaflets that defectors send back across the heavily-militarised border – usually attached to balloons or floated in bottles.
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It raised pressure further by threatening military measures against Seoul, but later said it had suspended those plans in an apparent sudden dialling-down of tensions.
In his complaint, lawyer Lee Kyung-jae claimed the now-demolished liaison office was South Korean property as it was renovated using South Korean government funds, despite its being located in the North.
READ: South Korea says it will no longer accept unreasonable behaviour by North Korea
Kim "used explosives to destroy" the South's "quasi-diplomatic mission building that served the public interest", he said in the complaint.
Lee also filed a complaint against Pak Jong Chon, chief of the general staff of the North Korean military.
Under South Korea's criminal code, he stressed, damaging property or Read More – Source
