Members of the ‘Wangjaesan’ espionage ring which maintained close relations with North Korea for more than 20 years were charged by prosecutors in Seoul today.
A total of five men; the head of the ring, Kim (48), Incheon regional head Im (46), Seoul regional head Lee (48), communications head Lee (43) and propaganda head Yoo (46), stand charged with forming an anti-state group and espionage activities. A further five individuals are still under investigation, but have not been detained.
The men apparently conducted their espionage activities in and around Incheon and Seoul, reporting to the No. 225 Bureau of the Chosun Workers’ Party on not only political issues and trends but also obtaining and transmitting military information.
According to state prosecutors, Kim, the group’s founder, received orders to spread the revolutionary ideas of the North Korean regime in a face-to-face meeting with ailing North Korean founder Kim Il Sung in August, 1993, after forging links with the No. 225 Bureau and being handed the alias Kwan Deok Bong.
Kim is also said to have taken an oath of loyalty to the Chosun Workers’ Party and Kim Jong Il on 25 separate occasions.
The other four members of the group, all of whom apparently joined it in the late 1990s having known Kim in some capacity earlier in life, have been charged with activities including transmitting to North Korea information on South Korean politics, satellite photos of military installations, and U.S. military field manuals.
In addition, propaganda head Yoo is said to have formed two companies, Korea Contents Lab and Jiwon Net, to help finance and support the group’s activities.
With the exception of Yoo, all members of the group allegedly received medals from North Korea for their espionage efforts in 2005, with communications head Lee allegedly receiving two.
