A North Korean agent disguised as a defector has been detained on suspicions of violating South Korea's National Security Law, Seoul's prosecutors said Tuesday.
During a routine investigation of newly arrived defectors that was held recently, the 50-year-old suspect surnamed Kim reportedly confessed that he is a spy working for the North's National Security Agency, according to prosecutors.
South Korea's National Security Law prohibits its citizens from contacting North Koreans without government approval and engaging in activities benefiting the North.
In June, Kim entered South Korea after posing as a North Korean defector in an attempt to collect information on defectors in the South, prosecutors said. Before coming to Seoul, Kim had carried out espionage activities for the North's spy agency in China for 15 years.
Prosecutors said they have requested a warrant to arrest Kim on Friday on suspicions of spying for the communist regime and a court will soon decide whether to approve the warrant.
The arrest is the latest case showing that Pyongyang is still attempting to infiltrate spies into Seoul, home to more than 24,000 North Korean defectors.
In July, prosecutors indicted a North Korean female agent on charges of working for another major North Korean spy agency, the State Security Ministry. (Yonhap)
서울중앙지검 공안1부(이상호 부장검사)는 북한 국가안전보위부 소속으로 알려진 위장 탈북 공작원 김모(50)씨에 대해 국가보안법 위반(특수잠입 등) 혐의로 지난 7일 구속영장을 청구했다고 11일 밝혔다.
지난 6월 탈북자 신분으로 위장해 국내에 들어온 김씨는 최근 국가정보원 합동신문센터의 조사를 받는 과정에서 자신이 국가안전보위부 소속의 탈북자 위장 간첩이라는 사실을 자백한 것으로 전해졌다.
김씨는 15년 전 국가안전보위부로부터 `중국에 있는 남한 출신 주요 인사들의 동향을 파악하고 탈북자 정보 등을 수집해 보고하라'는 지령을 받고 북한을 떠나 중국에서 활동해오다 올해 6월 국내에 있는 탈북자들의 동향 정보를 수집ㆍ보고하기 위해 탈북자 신분으로 위장해 입국한 것으로 알려졌다.
북한 국가안전보위부는 반체제 인사를 색출해 정치범수용소에 수감ㆍ관리하는 공안기구로 대간첩 업무와 해외 정보수집, 해외 공작업무 등을 수행하고 있다.
외부로 드러나지 않지만 약 5만명의 요원이 활동하는 것으로 알려져 있으며 인민보안부, 정찰총국과 함께 북한의 3대 정보기관으로 불린다. (연합뉴스)
North Korea's top university to admit more foreign students 
Choi Si-won under fire over death of woman bitten by dog 
Spectacular fall foliage: Where to enjoy the vibrant colors [PHOTOS] 
Idols turn to acting to extend short-lived popularity 
Trump visit to DMZ could provoke North Korea 
Alcohol can help you speak a foreign language more fluently, study shows 
iPhone 8 loses steam 
Carter wants to go to North Korea on peace mission 
Pyongyang won't join six-party talks until US changes attitude: North Korea's diplomat 
Korean committee backs huge hike in e-cigarette tax 
.jpg)
.jpg)
