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90 directives violated the National Security Act
The court found three former executives of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions guilty on charges of violating the National Security Act, including forming an underground organization after being recruited by agents of North Korea’s Cultural Exchange Bureau and carrying out North Korea’s orders.
On the afternoon of the 6th, the 14th Criminal Division of the Suwon District Court (Chief Judge Go Kwon-hong) announced that Mr. A sentencing hearing was held for Mr. B (49), the head of the organization office of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ Health and Medical Workers’ Union, Mr. C (55), the former vice-chairman of the Metal Workers’ Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, and Mr. D (52), the former head of the organization department of a federation under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, and Mr. A was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was sentenced to 15 years of suspension in 2012.
Mr. B and Mr. C were sentenced to 7 years in prison and 7 years of qualification suspension, and 5 years in prison and 5 years of qualification suspension, respectively. Mr. D, who was charged with violating the National Security Act (meetings, etc.), was found not guilty.
The court said, “Three people, including Mr. A, received orders from North Korea and sent reports to North Korea containing major election trends and information on major military facilities,” adding, “They provide benefits to North Korea, an anti-state organization, and pose a direct or indirect risk to South Korea’s security.” It was ruled that it caused “.
At the decision hearing held earlier, the prosecution requested the court to sentence Mr. A to 20 years in prison and suspension of qualifications for 20 years, and to the remaining three people each to 10 years in prison, 10 years of suspension to 3 years in prison and 3 years of suspension of qualifications.
Mr. A and others were indicted in May last year on charges of conducting espionage under the pretense of legitimate labor union activities under orders from the North Korean Cultural Exchange Bureau from 2017 to 2022, or contacting North Korean agents overseas, including in China and Cambodia.
Establishment of an underground organization of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions under orders from North Korea
Prosecutors determined that they committed these crimes after being recruited by North Korean agents and establishing an underground organization within the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.
According to the prosecution, Mr. A, who was first recruited by North Korean Cultural Exchange Bureau agents, met North Korean agents and received orders in Cambodia, China, and Vietnam around September 2017, September 2018, and August 2019, respectively. While working as the head of a key department of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions from 2004 to early last year, he handed over the ID and password of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions operator to North Korea in October 2018.
In addition, videos and photos of military facilities and military equipment, including the U.S. military in Pyeongtaek and the Osan Air Force Base, were found on Mr. A’s office computer. The prosecution judged that it was related to an order to collect data such as data for paralyzing the transmission network of major national institutions such as the Blue House and the layout of the Pyeongtaek 2nd Fleet Command and Pyeongtaek Thermal Power Plant.
A new form of North Korea’s operation, different from before, was also revealed. After ordering the purchase of a cannon phone to be used to deliver funds and the installation of the ‘WeChat’ application for security purposes, he requested technical data on raising horses, a subject of interest to North Korea’s highest-ranking officials. Additionally, regular YouTube videos unrelated to the incident were used as a means of contacting North Korea. In August 2022, I made an appointment to meet overseas by leaving a comment on a YouTube video containing certain pre-arranged characters.
Through a joint investigation with the National Intelligence Service and the police, the prosecution confirmed these facts by securing 90 North Korean directives and 24 reports exchanged between them and the North Korean Cultural Exchange Bureau from October 2018 to December 2022. The North Korean directive confirmed by the prosecution is the largest violation of the National Security Act ever.
[지홍구 기자]
