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Gov’t Secretary Linked to Spy Case

Posted November. 27, 2006 07:05,   

한국어

It was confirmed on November 26 that among the documents found at Jang Min-ho’s residence, the name of a Cheong Wa Dae secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Security, was brought up several times. Jang, the key member of the “Ilsimhoe” spy case, was arrested by the National Intelligence Service on charges of involvement with student activists.

In accordance to this, the Public Security Department is reviewing ways to summon the presidential secretary as a reference and investigate how his name ended up in reports to the North Korea.

A public security official stated, “Secretary “A” worked as a student activist before with Sohn Jung-mok (42), who was recently placed under the arrest. As matters stand, Jang has sent a lot of information to North Korea based on Son’s statement which he attained through Secretary A.”

So far there is no evidence of proof that Secretary “A” was directly drawn over to Mr. Jang’s side. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that Mr. Son targeted Secretary “A” and intentionally approached him in a bid to persuade him to join Ilsimhoe.

Secretary “A” was arrested in the U.S. Cultural Center illegal occupation strike case in 1985 along with Mr. Son and Lee Jung-hoon (43).

Mr. Son, who had visited the same high school as Jang, joined Jang afterwards and was arrested on suspicion of having entered North Korea.

In addition, the public security department assumes that the reports which Jang sent to North Korea include top secrets directly connected to national security. Hence, officials are under a secret investigation whether Secretary “A” was the source of this information.

However, the public security officials reportedly has yet to confirm whether secretary “A” supported them, being well aware of the intentions of Mr. Son or whether he met him due to private issues without knowing anything.

An official said, “Even though this conversation took place at an internal meeting, he may face punishment if state secret information was involved.”

Secretary A previously worked at the National Security Council (NSC) when the current government took office and was nominated as the secretary of Foreign Affairs and National security at the presidential office this February.



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