By I’m not surprised in the least by this news:
A two-star Army general is in custody on suspicion of leaking military secrets to North Korea. The man is the first active-duty general arrested on spying charges in decades.
A government official on Thursday said the general is “under investigation by the Defense Security Command and the National Intelligence Service. He was arrested on charges of handing military operational plans and field manuals over to the North through a third person for several years.”
The inquiry now focuses on whether there are more connected moles working in the military, the official added. He “was regarded as an outstanding officer and was thought to be in line for promotion to Army corps leader.”
The general was reportedly recruited by the North during the Roh Moo-hyun administration through a junior officer who was placed on the reserve list in 1997 after he was found to be involved in what became known as “Heukgemseong” case. [Chosun Ilbo]
At least in the case of this general it appears the North Koreans didn’t have to use MILF’s to get information out of him.
Considering that North Korean spies infiltrated throughout the South Korean government during the Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun presidencies, I’m not surprised in the least that the military has been infiltrated as well. Heck the spying by North Korea probably extended all the way into the Blue House but we will never know because former Korean President Roh Moo-hyun stopped the probe. However on a good note, current Korean President Lee Myung-bak has been busy cleaning out of the National Intelligence Service of spies.
5:42 am on June 6th, 2010 1
The article link goes to that dead DPRK aparachik.
6:24 am on June 6th, 2010 2
Chris I fixed the link, it should take you to the correct article now. Thanks.
7:45 am on June 6th, 2010 3
This is just the tip of the iceberg. It has been a well known fact for almost a decade now that ROK general and flag officers have been hobnobbing with their northern counterparts on official and unofficial officer "exchanges" while on TDY in foreign third-party countries — especially China, Russia, etc. This has been going on in the open since the KDJ and NMH administrations over the past decade, so no one should be surprised that the ROK military now is a chock full of moles, etc.
What the ROK gov't needs to do is turn these guys proclivity for jabbering and fraternizing with the enemy into their ace in the hole by creating a network of double, and perhaps quadruple agents. (Just like the VC and NVA did with the corrupt southern government.) We'll see if the Koreans are as wily as the Vietnamese…
8:24 am on June 6th, 2010 4
It's a well known fact?
Then I'm sure you can provide several reputable links to articles/websites about this. Please do so.
10:22 am on June 6th, 2010 5
I wouldn't call it a well known fact. I would say it doesn't surprise me. But, I have to wonder. What is the motivation? These officers know the truth about the North. What could possibly be so wonderful?
I wouldn't send this guy to jail. I'd turn him and his family over to the norK's. He loves them so much, let him live there.
11:21 am on June 6th, 2010 6
Not everything that is known necessarily exists either in English or on the Internet…
11:48 am on June 6th, 2010 7
If it is done officially and is "well known," then I see no problem with it. If it is done clandestinely while attempting to hide such contacts from their leadership, then there is a problem.
It was well known, during the Cold War that American and NATO commanders had official social meetings with their Soviet and Eastern Europe counterparts.
1:01 pm on June 6th, 2010 8
I see.
This is just the tip of the iceberg and it's been well known by many for almost a decade…but no one posts about it in English and even the Koreans – who love talking about scandals and live in the most wired country in the world – don't post about it either.
In the highly unlikely chance that you find ANYTHING about this "well known fact" on the net, please post the link(s).
I'm fluent in Korean, so Korean language websites are no problem.
2:11 pm on June 6th, 2010 9
@JOEC #4
I think you would agree; there is a gulf of difference between having contacts on the other side, which I believe is a good thing, and being a traitor and attempting to sell out your country.
7:21 pm on June 6th, 2010 10
Similar formed the basis of an episode of The Unit, so has to be true.
Are these bigwigs converted to the Juche cause, or is it more like the old-style Prussian Guards conspiring against Hitler? No friends of democracy, but promoting a less internationally-threatening form of autocracy.
7:24 pm on June 6th, 2010 11
>> It was well known, during the Cold War that American and NATO commanders had official social meetings with their Soviet and Eastern Europe counterparts.
FSB social meetings must be hilarious.
"So, Dimitri, would you like a bowl of soup?"
"No, Vasily, I think I'll wait until I get home."
7:37 pm on June 6th, 2010 12
I second that one, Leon – send them to live in the land of the people – a veritable paradise on earth
9:15 pm on June 6th, 2010 13
"I wouldn’t call it a well known fact. I would say it doesn’t surprise me. But, I have to wonder. What is the motivation?"
Perhaps this guy is the Korean equivalent of Aldrich Ames. You know, just a contractor who provides services for compensation and has no ideological affinity for his employer.
5:29 am on June 7th, 2010 14
The SK citizens who are secret sympathizers of NK don't like it when it's pointed out that East Germany had planted 40,000 spies in West Germany. Even the secretary of a West Germany prime minister was a spy working for East Germany.
I'd expect nothing less from the NK.
7:14 am on June 7th, 2010 15
Chris In Dallas – 4:15 am on June 7th, 2010 13
Perhaps this guy is the Korean equivalent of Aldrich Ames. You know, just a contractor who provides services for compensation and has no ideological affinity for his employer.
Some kind of lame attempt to slam contractors? First, Ames was a Federal employee (GS) not a contractor. Second, the General obviously is not a contractor as he is active duty military in the ROKA. So, what are you trying to say?
12:19 am on June 8th, 2010 16
@Leon LaPorte
Oh, no! I didn't use the term "contractor" in that way. I meant it in the classical sense of someone who accepts a project for pay. Yes, Ames was on the CIA payroll, but I think he was arguably a contractor for the Soviets/Russians. I kinda have a feeling the Soviet embassy didn't submit a 1099 for his services
!
5:31 am on September 14th, 2011 17
It is the blog that helps to develop oneself. Well done!