Ex-soldier investigated for spying

A former South Korean Army soldier is being investigated for suspicions of espionage.

According to the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency on Tuesday, the former sergeant first class was arrested on suspicion of passing military secrets to North Korea.

Police suspect that the soldier, Kim, 34, whose full name was undisclosed to the media, crossed through Shenyang, northeastern China, into the North and handed over information gathered during and after his military service.

The police report found that Kim had served in a signal brigade between 1998 and 2002 and again between 2004 and 2008. During that time Kim received classified military information.

After being discharged from the military, Kim worked for a telecommunications company and was part of a project that involved laying optical cables at military bases, giving Kim access to some 30 installations here, according to police.

The police also believe that Kim came under the influence of a female Chinese intelligence agent and defected to the North through China to deliver military secrets to North Korean intelligence agencies.

According to the report, after Kim returned to the South, he met and obtained secrets from other soldiers on active duty and engaged in other acts of espionage.

Police are investigating the details into Kim’s defection into the North and his sources.

By Robert Lee (robert@heraldcorp.com)