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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| NORK spy scandal shakes Seoul, may reach to ruling party officials |
| 2006-11-02 |
| From East Asia Intel, subscription South Korea's intelligence chief has resigned after speaking out about the country's engagement policy toward North Korea and while conducting a probe into a major North Korean spy case. The espionage scandal is focusing on several leftist political figures and may implicate members of the ruling Uri Party. Kim Seung-Kyu, director of the National Intelligence Service, tendered his resignation to President Roh Moo-Hyun last week. Sources said Kim was forced to step down because he opposed Roh's engagement policy toward the North following the communist neighbor's nuclear test on Oct. 9. Kim, former justice minister, had called for a review of SeoulÂ’s policy of engaging the North in response to the nuclear test. His remarks angered Roh who has vowed to push for the reconciliation policy toward the North despite its nuclear test, according to the sources. The controversy forced Roh's office to pressure the spy chief to step down, they said. Kim was also apparently facing discontent from the ruling camp over the NIS's probe into some left-leaning politicians suspected of spying for the North. Got a little close to the top daws, did we? The NIS said Kim resigned to pave the way for Roh to form a new lineup of officials in charge of security and foreign affairs. Which translates to toadies and appeasers. The NIS had investigated some politicians from the anti-American Democratic Labor Party on suspicion of spying for the North and for making unauthorized contact with alleged North Korean agents. They were charged with meeting suspected North Korean intelligence officials in China and receiving instructions to report on South Korea's political and labor situation. The alleged ringleader, Chang Min-Ho, has confessed that he visited North Korea three times and became a full member of the country's Communist Workers' Party, according to the prosecution. The suspects have allegedly maintained close ties with lawmakers from Roh's ruling Uri Party. If links with the suspects were confirmed, ruling lawmakers would suffer a major political blow. Kim had vowed to expand the probe. "This is a case that involves regular spies, it is very shocking," he said. No sh*t, Sherlock, understatement of the week. The anti-communist opposition Grand National Party and conservative forces have charged that Roh's office tried to wield undue influence on the ongoing investigation by replacing the NIS chief. "It is very strange that Kim, who is the chief official in charge of anti-espionage activities, has just offered to quit when the investigation of the spy case is set to begin in earnest," GNP spokeswoman Na Kyoung-Won said. "President Roh should not replace him until the investigation is completed." The party also accused DLP leaders of traveling to the North despite the ongoing spy probe. A 13-member delegation, headed by DLP Chairman Moon Sung-Hyun and several lawmakers, left Seoul on Oct. 30 for Pyongyang. The NIS opposes the visit, but the government approved the controversial trip. |
| Posted by:Alaska Paul |