The truth behind the death of a private first class in the 28th division was disclosed, greatly shocking the public, the statement said, and went on:

The private first class was subject to all forms of harsh treatment including beating at that time which was a tragedy.

Violence occurred in the army in an unbroken chain because the upper echelon of the military played down or concealed the cases of assaults.

The then Defense Minister Kim Kwan Jin neither looked into those cases nor severely punished the main culprits.

The statement demanded Kim own responsibility and step down at once.