The government announced its intention to return the body of a North Korean citizen discovered in the West Sea in late June. However, North Korea failed to respond by Monday, just one day before the planned handover. Given Pyongyang’s apparent disinterest in improving relations with the Lee Jae-myung administration, the body transfer is likely to fall through.
The Ministry of Unification reported that North Korea had not expressed willingness to accept the body by the deadline. Despite the government’s attempts to communicate through the inter-Korean liaison office hotline in Panmunjom (Join Security Area) —making two calls on that day—North Korea remained unresponsive.
On July 29, the Ministry publicly notified North Korea of its plan to transfer the body, found on June 21 near Seokmodo Island, through Panmunjom on July 5 at 3:00 p.m. The deceased was identified as Ko Seong-cheol, born in October 1988, a farm worker from Gangbuk-ri, Geumcheon County, North Hwanghae Province.
Due to North Korea’s silence, the Ministry resorted to disclosing the body’s identity and transfer plans via media channels. The government also relayed this information to North Korea multiple times through the United Nations Command.
In late 2023, North Korea declared inter-Korean relations as those between hostile states. Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Department Director of the Workers’ Party, recently emphasized their disinterest in any Seoul-initiated policies or proposals, outright rejecting dialogue with South Korea.
Given this stance, the body transfer is unlikely to occur. If it does not, the South Korean government plans to cremate the remains as unclaimed.
Some analysts, however, do not rule out the possibility of a last-minute transfer on Tuesday. They recall a similar incident last month when North Korea, despite not responding to advance notifications, sent vessels to receive six rescued citizens as scheduled.
There is a chance North Korea might show activity around Panmunjom on Tuesday, potentially signaling its intentions to the South.
Despite the silence, Seoul remains committed to its conciliatory approach. The military has begun removing loudspeakers along the border, and the Unification Ministry is considering legislative changes to curb the distribution of anti-North Korean leaflets. Discussions are also underway to adjust the tone of the upcoming U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises.
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, after visiting Jogyesa temple, underscored the critical importance of rebuilding trust between the two Koreas, describing it as having completely disappeared.