Police request arrest warrant for reporter over '99 Chinese spies' article

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Police on Tuesday applied for an arrest warrant for an internet media reporter over a controversial report alleging that 99 Chinese spies were apprehended at a National Election Commission (NEC) facility during former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3.

The reporter, whose identity is withheld, is accused of obstructing the NEC's official duties by publishing a false article, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

The Jan. 16 article claimed that the 99 Chinese nationals captured during a Korean-U.S. joint military operation were transported to a U.S. base in Japan's Okinawa and confessed to all charges of election interference during the interrogation process.

The NEC rejected the claim as "clearly false" and filed a police complaint against the media.

The police said they will continue to strictly investigate similar online fake news articles.