An employee in South Korea’s military intelligence command has been arrested for allegedly leaking military secrets, according to the Defense Ministry. The employee, who works at the Korea Defense Intelligence Command, is accused of leaking confidential military information. The Defense Ministry has not disclosed specific details of the allegations as an investigation is ongoing.
Local media reports suggest that the leaked information may have included details about South Korean spies operating abroad. It is speculated that the employee provided a Chinese national with thousands of confidential documents, including information on the intelligence command’s agents working in foreign countries under disguised identities.
The military intelligence command plays a crucial role in collecting information on North Korea, with agents often deployed to countries like China to gather intelligence. The leaked documents reportedly contain the real names, ages, and locations of these secret agents.
There are concerns that the leaked information was intended to be passed on to North Korea, potentially jeopardizing South Korea’s intelligence-gathering operations and putting the safety of its spies at risk. The National Intelligence Service, South Korea's primary spy agency, is closely monitoring the situation.
Military investigators have indicated that the Chinese national who received the leaked information may have connections to North Korea’s spy agency. The Korea Defense Intelligence Command has taken immediate steps to recall officials deployed abroad and has imposed a ban on overseas business trips to prevent further leaks.
The arrested employee has denied the allegations, claiming that his laptop was hacked. However, the intelligence command has refuted this claim, stating that the leak was not a result of hacking. The investigation into the matter is expected to take several months.
The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions between North and South Korea, with both countries engaging in military activities and missile tests. The situation underscores the importance of safeguarding sensitive military information to protect national security interests.
