South Korean authorities are initiating an international investigation after receiving an email from someone claiming to be a Japanese lawyer who took responsibility for the devastating Jeju Air crash that claimed 179 lives at Muan International Airport last week.
The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) announced Monday they will work with Interpol and pursue diplomatic channels to investigate the threat, which was sent to a Ministry of Justice official following the December 29 tragedy. The email also included threats to detonate powerful explosives in various Korean downtown areas.
“We plan to request cooperation from the Japanese police through Interpol and pursue international criminal justice cooperation through diplomatic channels,” the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) said.
Investigators believe the sender may be connected to similar threatening emails and faxes from major Korean organisations since August 2003.
In a related development, police are also investigating 126 malicious online comments targeting the crash victims and their grieving families. These comments were identified as of 5 p.m. Sunday, highlighting the additional challenges authorities face in managing the aftermath of Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster in recent history.
The investigation continues as authorities work to verify the authenticity of the threats while maintaining heightened security measures across the country.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s transport minister Park Sang-woo said on Tuesday he intends to step down to take responsibility for the deadly crash of a Boeing jet operated by Jeju Air on Dec. 29.
“I feel heavy responsibility for this disaster,” he said during a press briefing.
He indicated that he would step down once the immediate crisis is addressed.
Air safety experts have identified a critical flaw in the runway design, pointing to the rigid embankment supporting the “localizer” antenna – equipment that guides aircraft during low-visibility landings. According to their assessment, this structure was too inflexible and positioned too close to the runway’s end, potentially contributing to the catastrophic accident.
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