US Soldier Admits Guilt for Leaking Chinese Military Secrets... Also Sold Information on US Forces in Korea

Passing US Military Weapons, Satellite, and Training Information for 57 Million Won

[Image source=Yonhap News]

A U.S. military intelligence analyst arrested for selling sensitive U.S. military information to China has pleaded guilty. The information sold included data related to U.S. Forces Korea.

According to major foreign news agencies such as AP and AFP on the 13th (local time), the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Sergeant Corbin Schultz (24), a U.S. military intelligence analyst arrested in March at the U.S. base Fort Campbell on charges of conspiring to leak and distribute military defense information, unauthorized disclosure of defense-related technical data, and bribery of a public official, has admitted to the charges.

Schultz accessed classified materials using his Top Secret clearance. He is accused of sending dozens of sensitive U.S. military documents, including defense-related materials, maps, and photos, to a foreign national since June 2022. The foreign national claimed to reside in Hong Kong, suggesting a connection to the Chinese government. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Schultz received a total of $42,000 (approximately 57.06 million KRW) in exchange for the information.

The documents Schultz sold included materials acquired from the Ukraine war discussing how the U.S. Army could apply certain tactics to Taiwan’s defense, documents on Chinese military tactics, the readiness posture of the Chinese military, documents related to the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, military training documents, and U.S. military satellite-related documents.

There were also documents related to U.S. Forces Korea. Additionally, numerous documents concerning weapons systems such as the U.S. military’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), F-22A fighter jets, HH-60 helicopters, and U-2 reconnaissance aircraft were included.

Schultz’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 23 of next year. Foreign media reported that Schultz is likely to receive a prison sentence spanning several decades.

Matthew Olsen, U.S. Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General for National Security, stated, "The defendant exploited the trust placed in him by our military to conspire to transmit defense information to a person residing outside the United States, thereby endangering national security. He must pay the price for the crimes he committed."