By Jun Ji-hye
The Defense Security Command (DSC) said Wednesday it is considering enhancing its counterintelligence capability to better cope with the rapidly changing security environment.
During a seminar, DSC Commander Cho Hyun-cheon said his agency will reflect opinions from security experts in setting up the agency’s counterintelligence plans.
The participants -- including national security analysts, professors, journalists and soldiers -- discussed ways to reform the DSC, modify relevant laws and regulations and strengthen punishment against corrupt personnel.
Han Hee-won, a law professor at Dongguk University, argued the DSC should strengthen its capability in counterespionage activities by collecting and analyzing scientific and technical intelligence.
Kim Chul-soo, a researcher at the Korean Institute for Defense Analysis, called on the DSC members to make efforts to restore public trust by committing themselves to their duty and having a law-abiding spirit.
Rep. Song Young-keun of the ruling Saenuri Party, who previously served as the DSC commander, said, “The DSC should take this seminar as an opportunity to listen to a variety of opinions and set the direction to reform itself.”
The DSC held the seminar amid heightened concerns after a Navy lieutenant-commander serving at the DSC was caught handing over third-class confidential information on naval destroyers to a person believed to be a Chinese intelligence officer in February.
It was known that the suspected Chinese spy asked the DSC officer to hand over confidential data about the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system. The requested information was not actually delivered, according to officials.
At the center of contention was the fact that the military prosecution could not charge the DSC officer with the crime of espionage although the circumstances by which the officer contacted the Chinese indicated possible espionage.
Under the existing laws, the crime of espionage is constituted when a person acts as a spy for North Korea.
At the time, critics claimed that the application should be extended to “foreign countries.”
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