KDLP Advisor Arrested on Charges of Providing Intelligence to N.K.

An advisor to the Korean Democratic Labor Party (KDLP), identified only by his surname of Kang, was arrested on charges of providing domestic intelligence to officials of a pro-DPRK organization in Japan and North Korean officials, in return for activity funds.

Mr. Kang is the first person to be arrested for violating the National Security Law since the inauguration of the new government.

Kang allegedly met a Korean-Japanese reunification activist, who works for a pro-DPRK organization and is only identified by his surname of Park, 78, in 1994 and he provided local intelligence, including information about the KDLP, to Park and North Korean officials in areas such as Beijing and Tokyo on six occasions, according to the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office (SDPO) and the National Intelligence Service.

Kang is also alleged to have received some 3 million won in activity funds from them.

Kang was caught by the nation’s top intelligence agency with US$ 2,000 and a letter to request making efforts for reunification at Incheon International Airport, when he was returning on August 12 after he had offered minutes and statements of the KDLP to Park in Tokyo on August 10.

Prosecutors are investigating whether there wan another South Korean figure involved when Kang met North Korean officials.

“We are investigating him on charges of violating the National Security Law. At present there is not evidence that the case is related to the KDLP," an official with the SDPO said, adding, “We has no plan to expand the probe to include the party.”

“We appointed Kang to a party advisor post to treat the reunification activist with respect. He almost did not worked for the party and this case is not related to it,” said Lee Sang-hyun, KDLP spokesman.

Tae-Hoon Lee jefflee@donga.com