Three men were recently referred to prosecutors after illegally entering a U.S. Navy logistics support ship maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Busan for fishing.
The Busan Police Agency reported on Friday that Mr. A (60s) and Mr. B (30s) allegedly trespassed by scaling a fence at a dock in Uam-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, where U.S. Navy vessel maintenance was in progress, around 7:30 p.m. (KST) on May 2.
Mr. C (40s) faces similar charges for unauthorized entry at the same location to fish at approximately 4:50 p.m. (KST) on May 6.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) officially requested a police investigation on May 26. Law enforcement apprehended Mr. A and Mr. B on May 29, followed by Mr. C’s arrest on June 2.
The Busan Southern Police Agency charged Mr. A and Mr. B with violating laws pertaining to violent acts (joint residential trespassing), while Mr. C was charged with unlawful entry. All three were referred to prosecutors without detention on June 9.
In light of this incident, the NCIS Asia-Pacific regional director visited the Busan Police Agency to present a certificate of appreciation to Chief Kim Seong-hee for the rapid arrests and additional preventive measures implemented.
NCIS is responsible for investigating crimes related to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, conducting counter-terrorism and counter-intelligence activities, and overseeing security for MRO operations at domestic shipyards.
The agency commended the Busan police’s response, noting that it demonstrated a commitment to safeguarding domestic MRO operations involving U.S. Navy vessels and highlighted the strong practical cooperation between the United States and South Korea.
Chief Kim affirmed that it will continue to bolster the collaborative framework with U.S. authorities to ensure swift responses to potential security threats.