The Board of Audit and Inspection noted on the 24th that it requested an investigation from the prosecution regarding six individuals, including former Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyung-doo and Seo Wook, during the Moon Jae-in administration.
They are suspected of inadequately conducting the verification of the deactivation of the North Korean military front-line observation posts (GP) destroyed by North Korea according to the September 19 military agreement made by the Moon Jae-in administration in 2018.
The special investigation bureau of the Board of Audit and Inspection launched an audit into the allegations of inadequate verification regarding the deactivation of North Korean GPs following a public interest audit request from the 'Korea Defenders Retired Generals Association' in January of last year. The Board of Audit and Inspection is known to have requested an investigation into the six individuals from the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office at the end of last month based on the audit results.
In 2018, South and North Korea, in accordance with the September 19 military agreement, each destroyed 10 GPs within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) while preserving one in its original form, and conducted mutual on-site verifications after withdrawing troops and equipment. At that time, the military authorities dispatched a verification team comprising 77 members, seven for each North Korean GP, and announced that the North Korean GPs had been completely destroyed after conducting on-site investigations.
However, as North Korea rapidly restored the destroyed GPs after declaring a complete abrogation of the September 19 agreement on November 23, 2023, speculation has arisen that there might have been facilities underground at the North Korean GPs. This has led to further allegations that the military authorities during the Moon Jae-in administration did not properly verify the North Korean GPs.