Active duty officers and civilians have been arrested on charges of attempting to leak military secrets under orders from North Korean agents.



The National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency announced that they had arrested 38-year-old Lee Mo, a private contractor, and Captain B, an active duty officer, on charges of espionage with the Military Security Support Command.



It has been confirmed that Mr. Lee has been acquainted with a North Korean agent whom he met online about six years ago as a representative of investment in a virtual asset company.



Mr. Lee was recruited after receiving about 700 million won in virtual currency from a North Korean agent on two occasions since February last year.



Afterwards, Mr. Lee received an order to recruit an active duty officer necessary to detect military secrets, and actually succeeded in recruiting Officer B.



Captain B was arrested in January of this year by the police and military authorities who obtained intelligence after bringing an illegal watch-type camera delivered to the military base according to the order of the North Hak operatives.



It was confirmed that Captain B also received virtual assets worth 48 million won in exchange for leaking military secrets.



In addition, it was confirmed that Mr. Lee was assembling a USB-type hacking device for the purpose of hacking the 'Korean military joint command and control system', which is classified as a second-class military secret.



It has been confirmed that they have maintained security by automatically deleting conversations after receiving orders through telegram messages with North Korean agents.



Prosecutors handed over Lee, who was arrested on charges of espionage and convenience, to trial.



The military prosecution also handed over active duty officer Captain B to the military court for violating the National Security Act.



(Photo = provided by Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Yonhap News)