South Korean Government Says Murdered Fishery Official Wanted to Defect Due to Gambling Debts

According to the ROK government the fishery official murder by North Korea had over $282,000 in gambling debts which is likely what motivated him wanting to defect:

 South Korea said Tuesday that a government official slain by North Korean sailors wanted to defect, concluding that the man, who had gambling debts, swam against unfavorable currents with the help of a life jacket and a floatation device and conveyed his intention of resettling in North Korea.

Senior coast guard officer Yoon Seong-hyun said at a televised briefing that there was a “very low possibility” that the man could have fallen from a ship or tried to kill himself because he was putting on a life jacket when he was found in North Korean waters last week.

Yoon said tidal currents at the time would also make it extremely difficult for him to drift into North Korean waters naturally.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link, but the man’s family says they believe he accidentally fell into the water and was not trying to defect.