By Park Si-soo
Staff reporter
The prosecution has launched an investigation into those suspected of spreading groundless rumors involving the sinking of the 1,200-ton frigate Cheonan near the maritime border with North Korea on March 26 that killed 46 Navy crew members.
It will also look into cases where Internet users posted groundless remarks about the reasons behind the sinking of the warship.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said Friday it had begun to investigate former presidential secretary Park Seon-won for his remarks criticizing the government for its secrecy over the incident.
A special team of prosecutors dealing with national security affairs will be in charge of the case, reflecting the gravity of the investigation against the former secretary by Defense Minister Kim Tae-young.
Park said in a radio interview aired on April 22, "The information the South Korean government has, but has not disclosed, is in the hands of the United States. The Korean government is refusing to make public detailed information, including the destination to where the Cheonan was heading at the time of the explosion and how fast it was sailing."
The defense ministry immediately rebuked him over his comments and then filed a complaint with the prosecution, calling his remarks "groundless and politically motivated."
Park served as a presidential secretary on North Korean issues in 2006 under the Roh Moo-hyun administration. The prosecution plans to summon Park in the near future.
Meanwhile, the prosecution is now examining 10 other rumors in connection with the most tragic incident in the Korean Navy's recent history.
"They are being circulated on the Internet," a prosecutor said. But he refused to elaborate on what they are about.
The investigation into such online rumors is expected to widen further since the Supreme Prosecutors' Office last Wednesday ordered lower offices to take a tough stance against those spreading groundless allegations regarding the incident, no matter what their purpose may be.