Another Investigation into the 1987 KAL Bombing is Likely

The development committee for fact-finding on the National Intelligence Service’s past cases was reported on December 14 to have appointed a member of the group for the bereaved families of those who died in the 1987 KAL bombing as a civil investigator.

According to the National Intelligence Service (NIC), Mr. S, who has been doing clerical work in the group of bereaved families, was appointed as the agency’s civil investigator last week and will be formally hired as its one-year contract worker, after getting an identity check.

His appointment as a civil investigator strengthens the likelihood that the KAL bombing case will be re-investigated as part of the NIS’ effort to find the truth about past events.

An official from the NIS noted, “The academic, religious circles and civil groups recommended 10 people as candidates for our contract civil investigator position, and we are now conducting legal review on them and identity checks,” adding, “The committee plans to determine which past events to investigate at the end of February 2005 through internal discussion.”

The NIS’ Committee for Truth Regarding Past Events is scheduled to hold a workshop on December 16, joining together 10 civil members from Wonju, Gangwon Province, five members from the NIS, and 10 civil investigators, and will start its work earnestly.

Jung-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com