Kim Jong Un's North Korea Allegedly Obtains South Korean Spy Data: Military Intel Employee Arrested For Leaking Secrets

A civilian employee of South Korea’s military intelligence command has been arrested for allegedly leaking confidential military information. The data, reportedly concerning South Korean spies operating abroad, is suspected to have been transmitted to Kim Jong Un‘s North Korea.

What Happened: The Defense Ministry of South Korea announced the arrest of the employee on Tuesday, reported the Associated Press. The employee, who worked at the Korea Defense Intelligence Command, is accused of leaking classified military information. The Defense Ministry has refrained from disclosing further details due to an ongoing investigation.

Local media has suggested that the leaked information includes the real identities and locations of South Korean agents working in foreign countries under assumed names. The employee is reported to have handed over thousands of confidential documents to a Chinese national, with whom the leaked information was intended to be shared with North Korea.

The Korea Defense Intelligence Command, a key agency responsible for gathering intelligence on North Korea, has reportedly recalled its officials from overseas and imposed a ban on further business trips. The employee, however, has denied the allegations, claiming that his laptop was hacked. The intelligence command has refuted this claim.

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Why It Matters: The arrest of the South Korean military intelligence officer comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Recently, Kim Jong Un has shown a willingness to resume nuclear talks with the United States if Donald Trump returns to the White House, according to a North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea.

Additionally, the U.S. Army has recently halted the pay of a soldier imprisoned in Russia, reflecting the serious consequences for military personnel involved in unauthorized activities abroad. This incident echoes the case of a U.S. soldier who entered North Korea.

Moreover, Kim Jong Un has been actively involved in domestic issues, such as praising his military for flood rescue efforts near the Chinese border.

Furthermore, North Korea’s cyber espionage activities have sparked outrage among Washington and its allies. The country has been accused of conducting a global cyber espionage campaign to steal classified military secrets, as highlighted in a joint advisory by the U.S., South Korea, and the U.K.

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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Kaustubh Bagalkote