The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Wed, August 17, 2022 | 06:40
N. Korea military intelligence officer defected to S. Korea last year
Posted : 2016-04-11 11:34
Updated : 2016-04-11 11:34
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
A ranking North Korean military officer in charge of conducting intelligence operations defected to South Korea last year, Seoul's defense ministry said Monday, as the North's leader is tightening his grip on the regime.

A North Korean senior colonel, whose name has been withheld, defected in 2015 after working at the North's reconnaissance bureau tasked with carrying out espionage missions against the South, the ministry said.

"(The North Korean military official's defection) is a fact, but we cannot make public detailed information (about him)," Moon Sang-gyun, a ministry spokesman, said at a regular press briefing.

A source familiar to North Korean affairs said that the officer is viewed as an elite among North Koreans who have defected to the South.

"He is believed to have stated details about the bureau's operations against South Korea to authorities here," the source said.

South Korea's spy agency said last year that since taking power in late 2011, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has had more than 70 senior officials executed in an effort to tighten his grip on the communist regime.

A number of North Korea's working-level officials based in foreign nations have sought asylum apparently to avoid Kim's so-called reign of terror, according to various sources.

The North's Reconnaissance General Bureau deals with intelligence gathering and espionage operations in foreign countries, and is also responsible for cyberwarfare. The bureau is known to be behind Pyongyang's alleged cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment in 2014.

Kim Yong-chol, a new party secretary handling inter-Korean affairs, had served as the head of the bureau since 2009.

In a separate case, a North Korean diplomat stationed in an African country and his family members defected to South Korea in May last year, said another source having knowledge about North Korea.

Last week, a group of 13 North Koreans who used to work at an overseas restaurant en masse defected to South Korea, the first mass defection since 2011. North Korean-run restaurants in foreign nations have served as a source of hard currency for Pyongyang.

The latest case came as the U.N. Security Council and major countries have slapped tougher sanctions on North Korea for its January nuclear test and long-range rocket launch in February.

South Korea's intelligence agency and other government organizations, meanwhile, have started processing the defectors to find out the motivation behind their action, according to a government source.

There are more than 28,000 North Korean defectors in South Korea, with some 1,280 North Koreans entering the South last year, according to Seoul's unification ministry. (Yonhap)

 
LG
  • Korean builders desperate for foreign construction workers
  • Western, traditional Korean medicine doctors clash over terminology
  • 2 Buddhist monks assault solo protester
  • Korea grapples with excess rice
  • Ruling party chief accuses president of verbal abuse
  • Instructors furious over scaling down of gugak in music teacher education
  • Gates calls on Korea to play greater role in fight against COVID-19 pandemic
  • Do Kwon says he will cooperate with investigation
  • Concerns grow over Korea's pension fund
  • HiteJinro headquarters occupied by unionized cargo truckers
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • Girls' Generation music video director apologizes for copying design Girls' Generation music video director apologizes for copying design
    • Star directors' new series to A-listers' small screen comeback expected in coming weeks Star directors' new series to A-listers' small screen comeback expected in coming weeks
    • NewJeans sets record with debut album NewJeans sets record with debut album
    • 2PM's Lee Jun-ho proves versatility at 'Before Midnight' concert 2PM's Lee Jun-ho proves versatility at 'Before Midnight' concert
    • 'Confidential Assignment 2' has even more action, humor 'Confidential Assignment 2' has even more action, humor
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group