Seoul: South Korean prosecutors have
arrested five people on charges of spying for North Korea, a
report said on Friday.
The five, led by an information technology company
chief identified only as Kim, were charged with violating
South Korea`s security law, Yonhap news agency said.
They were accused of setting up an underground
communist group on the instructions of an espionage unit of
North Korea`s ruling Workers Party, it said.
Prosecutors were not available for comment.
Espionage charges in South Korea carry a maximum penalty of
death.
Kim, 48, allegedly contacted North Korean agents 10
times during trips to China, Japan and other countries from
April 1994, Yonhap said, adding the detainees also included a
former opposition party member.
Yonhap said authorities were investigating about 20
other people including union activists and opposition party
members to see whether they were involved in Kim`s espionage
activities.
The South periodically detains people accused of
spying for its communist neighbour.
PTI
