Two arrested for espionage for N. Korea

A man and woman have recently been arrested for delivering classified military information to North Korea, the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office said Tuesday.

The man identified only by his surname Jang, 58, went to China to meet a North Korean agent operating missions there. He told the agent that he had been running a business to unify the two Koreas, according to prosecutors.

With a 57-year-old woman surnamed Yu, he visited China 30 times since 2008 and both underwent training. In return they informed the North Korean agent of South Korean classified military information and the political situation.

The information includes the budget for, and locations and specifications of surveillance cameras installed in guard posts along the eastern shore.

Since Seoul has been gradually removing barbed wires on the east coast since 2007, the surveillance cameras play a large role in guarding the coastline.

Jang and Yu had known each other for almost a decade before they moved in together in 2009. The man took the information from a surveillance camera supplier run by the woman’s elder brother, prosecutors said.

The couple created and ran a religion called “Korean Community Union” since 2000.

The police are now further investigating whether the two informants have any supporters or connections.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)