North Korean prosecutors Friday demanded the extradition of those they say plotted to assassinate leader Kim Jong Un, including South Korea’s outgoing spy chief and unnamed « masterminds » in the US Central Intelligence Agency.
The demand comes a week after the North sensationally alleged it uncovered a US-South Korean plot to kill Kim with biochemical, radioactive or poisonous substances during a major event, such as a military parade.
The prosecutors on Friday said outgoing South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Lee Byung-ho and unnamed « masterminds in (the) CIA » are among those they intend to prosecute, North Korean state news agency KCNA reported.
Lee leads the NIS, though new South Korean President Moon Jae-in has nominated a replacement.
The prosecutors called for the arrests and extraditions of those they say led or were involved with « the hideous state-sponsored crime. »
« The CIA can never dodge its responsibility for having played a mastermind role in the crime, » the North’s Central Public Prosecutor’s Office said, according to KCNA.
Last week’s KCNA report claimed that members of the CIA and NIS worked with a North Korean citizen in a plot to « commit bomb terrorism targeting the supreme leadership, » and that the plot was « recently uncovered and smashed. »
North Korea has a history of making unfounded claims, and CNN did not independently corroborate last week’s report. US and South Korean intelligence officials dismissed the accusations.
