South Korean intelligence officer deported from Libya on espionage charges rattles bilateral ties

SEOUL (BNO NEWS) -- Bilateral ties between South Korea and Libya have been deteriorated after a South Korean intelligence officer was recently deported from the African country on charges of illicit espionage, which led to further arrests of South Korean residents, local media said Tuesday.

Yonhap News reported that on July 18, an unnamed official of the Seoul-based National Intelligence Service (NIS) was deported from Libya for allegedly trying to gather information on the country's leader, Muammar al-Qaddafi, his family, and key Libyan bureaucrats.

It was further reported that Libyan authorities had closely followed the official during three months before his arrest, which led to a six-day interrogation before his final deportation. Local authorities have been trying to determine whether the official was working for a multinational intelligence agency or one in South Korea.

On June 23, Libya decided to close its economic cooperation bureau in Seoul, which was practically serving as an embassy, after South Korea questioned the deportation. Libyan authorities had been conducting searches, arresting a missionary named Koo on June 15 and a farmer named Jeon on July 17 on charges of violating the nation's Muslim laws.

A Libyan national working at the South Koran Embassy was also arrested as a suspect of espionage, but further details were not available.

NIS representatives traveled to Libya last Tuesday to discuss the situation with Libyan counterparts, and South Korea is currently awaiting answer.

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