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Prosecutors have expanded their investigation into what they claim is the biggest North Korean spying scandal since the historic June 15, 2000 joint declaration between the two Koreas. Their probe so far, conducted with the help of the National Intelligence Service, reveals that there were several cells of the spy ring consisting mostly of former student activists, they say.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors¡¯ Office in interim results announced Friday said it indicted Chang Min-ho, a 44-year-old ethnic Korean businessman from the U.S. and alleged leader of the ring; Sohn Chong-mok, a former student activist; Lee Jung-hoon, a former member of the minor opposition Democratic Labor Party; Lee Jin-gang, an employee in Chang¡¯s firm; and Choi Ki-young, the DLP vice secretary general.
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Senior prosecutor Ahn Chang-ho at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors¡¯ Office announces interim results of an investigation into an alleged North Korean spy ring on Friday.
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The office said the spy ring dubbed Ilshimhoe consisted of four cells. One of them was tasked with promoting the North¡¯s Songun or military-first ideology and led by Lee Jung-hoon, who was in charge of targeting the Seoul area in the DLP. Another led by Lee Jin-gang was in charge of targeting civic organizations. Prosecutors described the scandal as an attempt to establish a fifth column by infiltrating political parties and converting activists to North Korean ideologies.
Members allegedly got instructions form the North directly or by e-mail to organize anti-American activities, such as protests against the planned Korea-U.S. free trade agreement and the move of U.S. Forces Korea headquarters to Pyeongtaek. It also allegedly spied on leading DLP members and passed confidential documents including one on the disposition of U.S. troop bases to Pyongyang.
The communist country tried to cement its influence in the DLP by ordering members to get a certain unidentified person elected as party chairman, prosecutors said. In e-mails, North Korea reportedly assured members that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il treasures them ¡°like very precious gold.¡±
Chang Min-ho allegedly described North Korea as ¡°my country¡± and South Korea as the ¡°enemy's rearguard¡± in a report to the North, while Choi Ki-young allegedly pledged allegiance to Kim Jong-il saying the military-first ideology ¡°is the only best answer.¡± Chang allegedly received US$16,500 in operational funds, Lee Jung-hoon $2,000 and Lee Jin-gang $3,000.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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