Is the former spy-chief of S. Korea a N. Korean spy ?

independent.co.kr ^ | 02/16/03

[TigerLikesRooster]

Is the former spy-chief of S. Korea a N. Korean spy ?

My Comment:

This is my selective summary of the long article in Korean posted on a few conservative sites in S. Korea yesterday and today, including independent.co.kr and cppc.or.kr.

It makes an explosive allegation, on a par with the cash-for-summit scandal. Even if we are not certain at this time that his allegation is really true, it nevertheless reveals the quite troubling conduct of people who are at the center of political power in S. Korea.

Kim Ki-Sam, a whistle-blower and a former intelligence officer at the National Intelligence Services in S. Korea, who broke open the "cash-for-summit" scandal, makes another explosive allegation.

He is now reported to be residing in America.

BEGIN SUMMARY.

After Kim Dae-Jung took power, I began to suspect that there is a N. Korean spy operating at the highest level of S. Korean government. Because it was my judgement that a man as cunning as Kim Jong-Il would not engage a dialogue with S. Korea unless he knows for sure every move of S. Korean government. I have pondered alone for a long time, "If there is a spy, who would that be ?" And my conclusion was, "Lim Dong-Won must be the one." (my note: Lim Dong-Won is the former chief of the National Intelligence Services (NIS), the former Minister of Unification, and the current Special Aide to the President on Diplomatic and National Security Affairs.)

• After the naval clashes in the Yellow Sea last June, Mr. Lim dismissed it as a mere accident, playing down the possibility of Kim Jong-Il's direct involvement in the matter. My recollection of N. Korean intelligence is that, after the humiliating loss they suffered at the naval confrontation against S. Korean navy in June, 1999, Kim Jong-Il ordered the N. Korean navy chief to avenge the loss within a year. However, it took time and money to upgrade their capability and plot their retaliation. It took them 3 years to finally carry out the Kim Jong-Il's order in June last year. Surely, Lim Dong-Won must be aware of such an intelligence. Why was he in such a hurry to dismiss it then ? Could it be that he is a spy ?

• Looking back, he has been the apologist for N. Korea too many times. He insisted, for example, that June '99 clash was also not a deliberate act of N. Korea but an unfortunate accident. Last June, at the S. Korean Army Academy, he blamed America for escalating tension in the Korean Peninsula with "war threat", deflecting a blame away from Kim Jong-Il.

• Another egregious example is his treatment of Mr. Hwang Jang-Yop, a prominent N. Korean defector. Mr. Lim banned all of his outside activities. Mr. Hwang was the strong critic of Kim Jong-Il and the advocate of N. Korean democratization. Mr. Lim placed him under virtual house arrest. He could not go where he wants, meet whom he wants, and say what he wants. Under the government with the so-called human right's champion as its president, Mr. Hwang's basic human rights were thoroughly trampled just because he opposed the government's policy toward N. Korea. Mr Lim even threatened to lift the protection of Mr. Hwang when Mr. Hwang wanted to go to America to testify about N. Korea (my note: Such a lift would expose Mr. Hwang to N. Korean agents out to kill him.)

• Right before I left the National Intelligence Services (NIS), one of my colleageus told me about the following episode. On September 2000, Kim Yong-Soon, a high-ranking official of N. Korea, arrived in Seoul. There was a banquet in his honor at the Walker-Hill Hotel. Park Ji-Won, then the Minister of Culture(my note: He is now the Chief Secretary to the President.) was invited to attend. Toward the end of the banquet, Mr. Park was really drunk and shouted, "There are two commies inside the National Intelligence Services(NIS). They should stand trial if the government changes hands." The two commies he refered to were Lim Dong-Won and Kim Bo-Hyun. At the time, Mr. Park and Mr. Lim were politically at odds because Mr. Lim backed the sacking of Mr. Park, who was embroiled in Hanvit Bank's loan scandal. In my opinion, Mr. Park vented out his anger by spelling out what he suspected about Mr. Lim and Mr. Kim.

• During Mr. Lim's tenure as the NIS chief, the analysts at the N. Korean Bureau were under a great deal of pain. They frequently deplored to me, "His behaviors totally frustrate us." Any objective reports on N. Korea were met with his angry rebukes if the reports contain something even slightly negative about N. Korea. The analysts could not produce any reports which make sense. One had to wonder if he is really on our side.

• At the beginning of Kim Dae-Jung government, those in charge of collecting N. Korean intelligence often picked up information, "For better interKorean relationship, Lim Dong-Won should be in charge." N. Korea prefers that a S. Korean figure who was originally from N. Korea is in charge of dealing with them. However, it is highly unusual for them to indicate their preference so blatantly.

• In 1991, Mr. Lim traveled to N. Korea as a member of a S. Korean working group 10 times. N. Koreans arranged his secret meeting with his long-lost sister. It is highly likely that N. Koreans recruited him there.
• Mr. Lim's behavior underwent some change after he was pushed out of the position of the NIS chief on March 27, 2001. That was immediately after Kim Dae-Jung's meeting with Bush disastrously failed. Kim Jong-Il was disappointed that Kim Dae-Jung failed to make tangible improvement on behalf of the relation between America and N. Korea. N. Koreans broke off all engagements with S. Korean government, starting with ministrial level talks. Since then,he was no longer the enthusiastic supporter of engagements with N. Korea at all costs as he was. He explained at great length on TV why sending electricity to N. Korea is not feasible. 8/15 S. Korean delegation to N. Korea failed. His change was noticed by N. Koreas who were heard muttering among themselves, "We can no longer count on Lim Dong-Won." This implies that there was a good reason for N. Koreans to trust him previously. I wonder why.
• A fews years ago, a high-ranking officer of the Military Security Command was investigating an important figure at the Presidential Office, on the suspicion of espionage. Because of that, he was forced into the retirement. An officer at NIS whom I knew pretty well also drew a plan of criminal investigation into a prominent figure at the Presidential Office, again on the suspicion of espionage. But his superiors forced him to drop the plan. There is a reason why no spies have been caught under this government. It is not that there are no spies. There are many many spies. But some spies are at the highest level of this government. No wonder no spies were caught!

END SUMMARY

[TigerLikesRooster]

FYI

[TigerLikesRooster]

FYI

[exnavy]

interesting article, thanks.

[Texas_Jarhead]

the waves that break do splash

[DoctorMichael]

Interesting................

Just for clarification on my part: These may be South Koreans (with sentiments towards North Korea) that spy FOR North Korea.............NOT North Korean Spys. I know its picky but the language here is important.

[Lion's Cub]

fyi

[AmericanInTokyo]

I figured that is why they had 'muzzled' Hwang who could provide so much devastating public input into the North Korean regime, him having escaped it and have previously been so high in the DPRK leadership. Something is (was) rotten!

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #5

Yes, I tried to shorten the title. I thought that people will figure it out as you would.:)

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #5

Yes, I tried to shorten the title. I thought that people will figure it out as you would.:)

[Siobhan]

Good background info. for evaluating the situation in N. and S. Korea.

[Siobhan]

Good background info. for evaluating the situation in N. and S. Korea.

[Paul Ross]

[Cicero]

It seems possible. Ideologues can justify some very strange behavior in the name of some higher good, and once they get started they are blackmailable from that point on. And with his boss also working closely with the North Koreans, he could count on plenty of political support for his odd behavior.

[Orion78]

PING

[The Westerner]

Thanks for this interesting article. It was my impression that the current President of South Korea has suspicious ties or sympathies with the Communist North.

[maro]

Why do they need spies when the top man (Kim Dae Jung) is helping them out to the tune of $200 MM?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[TigerLikesRooster]

I solicit your comments.:)

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #16

Because (1) they need good information about S. Korean government and (2) they need somebody inside who can steer decision-making in favor of N. Korea, by actively manipulating intelligence fed to the top leadership.

[TigerLikesRooster]

PING!