Song Du-yul is Kim Chul-soo

Professor Song Du-yul of the Muenster University in Germany reportedly admitted that he was Kim Chul-soo, a notorious senior member of North Korea’s ruling Workers Party who ranked 23rd in line to the power, according to the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

As the NIS transferred the case to the prosecution and proposing to hold indictment of professor Song, attention goes to what will be the final decision from the prosecution.

Report from NIS to the Intelligence Committee of the National Assembly

“Professor Song first visited North Korea in September 1973 and joined the Workers Party and since then has visited the North 18 times as of March 2003,” said lawmaker Jung Hyung-keun from the Grand National Party quoting the report. Song is also said to have admitted to receiving a total of $150,000 in payments from North Korea

NIS Director Ko Young-koo said to the committee that after questioning professor Song from September 23 to 27, the NIS confirmed these facts through his confession. “Since it is not likely that Song will destroy evidence or flee, the NIS recommended the prosecution not to arrest Song during the investigation,” said the lawmaker quoting the NIS Director.

Professor Song was reportedly persuaded by North Korean spy Lee Jae-won when he was staying in Germany. In 1973, Song visited North Korea and was trained to become a spy. He subsequently then joined the party.

Song is said to have confessed when he heard that he was designated as a funeral commissioner under the name of Kim Chul-soo for the deceased North Korean leader Kim Il-sung. He added that it was when he knew he had been ranked high in line to the power in the party.

He also received 1500 DM from a North Korean spy in Germany when his father died in August 1996. In addition to that, it was found that he sent hand-written letters about ten times to the North to praise ‘Dear Leader Kim Jung-il’ and the regime.

Controversy over Court Procedure

The NIS transferred the case to the prosecution on October 1, attaching its opinion to indict him.

Through questioning, the NIS confirmed professor Song breached several provisions in the National Security Law, including joining anti-national organization, visiting North Korea, having illegal communication and meeting with Kim Il-sung, and receiving money from North Korea.

Although the NIS recommended indicting Song, it added that it would be possible to hold indictment of Song if he seriously was remorseful about his misbehaviors and actively agreed with South Korea’s engagement policies toward the North.

The prosecution is expected to question professor Song this week to find out whether he knew he was named at the high-ranking position in the party beforehand. For the investigation, the prosecution is considering asking the Ministry of Justice to keep Song from leaving the country after October 3.

Seung-Heon Lee Tae-Hoon Lee ddr@donga.com jefflee@donga.com