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The key to the investigation is whether the people suspected of violating the National Security Law really contacted the North Korean agents and whether they actually followed North Korea's orders.

Authorities believe that the North Korean agent who was investigated for contacting them is a member of the Cultural Exchange Bureau under the United Front Department.



This is Reporter Jung Yoon-shik.



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North Korea's Cultural Exchange Bureau is in charge of exfiltrating and educating operatives, managing fixed spies in South Korea, building underground organizations, and working overseas.



It is an aid to North Korea's South Korean intelligence agency that covers information and operations.



Starting with the 1968 Unification Revolution Party incident, the 2006 Ilsimhoe espionage incident, and the 2011 Wangjaesan incident, the North Korean Cultural Exchange Bureau is also known to have been behind several spy incidents.



An official from the investigative authorities told SBS reporters that the four people who were searched and seized today (18th) and North Korean agents who had contact abroad were identified as belonging to the Cultural Exchange Bureau.



The authorities are aware that it is highly likely that the search and seizure targets were collected and reported to North Korea, including the trends of our political circles, social groups, and military data.



The National Intelligence Service is also investigating members of progressive political parties and farmers groups who have been active in Changwon and Jeju in Gyeongsangnam-do for several years for violating the National Security Law.



They are known to have contacted an agent from the North Korean Cultural Exchange Bureau in Cambodia and even received specific instructions.



Recently, investigations related to the National Security Law are expanding in other regions, such as Jeonju in North Jeolla Province and Jinju in South Gyeongsang Province.



The National Intelligence Service and the police are planning to analyze the data obtained through today's search and seizure to determine the exact affiliation of North Korean agents and track their activities against domestic figures.



(Video coverage: Choi Dae-woong, Yoon Hyung, video editing: Lee Seung-yeol)



▶ "Suspect of contact with North Korean agents"...

The police, the National Intelligence Service, and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions search and seizure