Organization Under Chinese Intelligence Agency Recruits Active-Duty Soldier
Repeated Requests for Key Military Secrets Including Operational Plans
An investigation by prosecutors has revealed that an organization under the Chinese military intelligence agency attempted to recruit an active-duty South Korean soldier to steal materials related to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and other sensitive information.
According to the indictment obtained by the office of Representative Joo Jinwoo of the People Power Party, which details the charges against a Chinese contact person, identified as A, for violating the Military Secret Protection Act, the Intelligence Bureau under the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission of China had been targeting internal information from the South Korean military over an extended period.
A, who was born in China and studied in Taiwan, began working as an informant and intermediary after meeting B, who leads an affiliated organization under the Chinese military intelligence agency, in April 2022.
In July of the following year, B made contact with an active-duty soldier, identified as C, who was serving in a unit in Yanggu County, Gangwon Province. B first transferred 3.5 million won to C's account and then requested information related to the "73rd Anniversary Incheon Landing Operation Joint Exercise." After C gathered and sent the information, B stated, "The value of the materials is not very high, but I am paying you an honorarium to build trust."
In October of that year, B sent an informant to C, delivering devices such as a hidden camera disguised as a necklace, a wristwatch, and a button, and requested that C photograph classified materials. In March of last year, B requested materials related to THAAD, the situation in Taiwan, and South Korea-US joint exercises, reportedly stating, "Information about THAAD and US forces is the most valuable."
Counterintelligence authorities monitored their activities for over six months. Through A, B provided C with a mobile phone installed with a security program, an envelope containing 5,000 dollars, and a cash card, and requested high-level information such as nuclear operations guidance materials and documents related to the South Korea-US joint exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS).
However, on December 3 of last year, when a state of emergency was declared in the military due to the 12·3 Martial Law Incident, B became increasingly anxious. B requested that C provide internal evaluations of South Korea-US joint exercises after 2024, materials related to nuclear operations guidance, and documents pertaining to "Operational Plan 5030," the South Korea-US joint operational plan to counter a potential North Korean invasion. A was arrested on the spot after accepting a USB containing two classified military documents from a counterintelligence officer posing as C. The prosecution, after taking over the case, indicted A and placed him in detention on April 25. C, who is still on active duty, remains under investigation by the military prosecution.
Representative Joo Jinwoo stated, "This case confirms that China is indeed stealing our country's military secrets. Acts of espionage by China and other foreign countries must be firmly punished, and measures must be established to prevent such incidents."
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