Former Director of National Security Suh Hoon enters the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, Seoul, Friday, to attend a review on an arrest warrant against him. Yonhap

By Nam Hyun-woo

Rival political parties are at loggerheads over the arrest of former Director of National Security Suh Hoon on suspicions of covering up North Korea's killing of a South Korean fisheries official in 2020.

While the ruling People Power Party (PPP) is ratcheting up the offensive by taking aim at former President Moon Jae-in, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is crying foul over the arrest, claiming it is political retaliation.

The Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant against Suh, Saturday, citing the possibility of destroying evidence related to the official's death.

Suh, who served as director of national security from July 2020 to May 2022, is accused of his alleged involvement in the Moon administration's conclusion that the government official was shot dead at sea while attempting to defect to North Korea, even though there was not enough evidence supporting that claim.

Suh is also suspected of ordering key security officials during a ministerial meeting on Sept. 23, a day after the South Korean official was killed, to delete internal intelligence reports that contradicted the conclusion that he was planning to defect.

Suh has claimed that it was "a policy-wise judgment based on comprehensive reviews on intelligence" and there is no risk of destroying evidence. But the court did not acknowledge that claim after reviewing the prosecutors' request for 10 hours.

As the arrest warrant was issued, the prosecution can hold Suh in custody for up to 20 days.

The arrest triggered furious reactions from the DPK.

"Suh has served the country for decades as a North Korea expert," DPK Rep. Youn Kun-young wrote on Facebook. "They should not treat him like this for the sake of ruthless political persecution."

DPK Spokesperson Rep. Lim O-kyeong said, "This is a politically motivated investigation whose outcome is already determined to serve the ruling power's interest, and it will be judged by law in the end."

She added, "All data and records are at the hands of the Yoon Suk-yeol government, and they are saying Suh may be able to destroy evidence. This is such an absurd logic."