South Korean navy officer arrested for spying for China
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 04 July, 2015, 5:01pm
UPDATED : Saturday, 04 July, 2015, 5:02pm
Agence France-Presse in Seoul
South Korea's navy (pictured) often engages in joint drills with the US, which is struggling to redefine its relationship with China. Photo: Yonhap
A South Korean navy officer has been arrested for allegedly leaking military secrets to China, a defence ministry spokesman said Saturday.
A lieutenant commander assigned to the Defence Security Command faces charges that he handed over classified information to a suspected Chinese agent while he was studying in China from 2009 to 2012.
He allegedly passed military materials to a university student in return for money.
South Korean authorities suspect the Chinese student was a spy.
Last month, two officials of the Defence Security Command were sentenced to six years and four years in prison respectively for passing classified information to arms dealers.
The incidents have dealt a blow to the Defence Security Command, whose tasks include the prevention of espionage and the establishment of discipline within the military.
