DATE=7/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235029
TITLE=SOUTH KOREA / SPY (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SOUTH KOREA HAS REACTED ANGRILY TO SPYING ACCUSATIONS
AGAINST ONE OF ITS DIPLOMATS IN RUSSIA. JOHN LARKIN REPORTS
FROM SEOUL THAT SOUTH KOREA MAINTAINS THE DIPLOMAT IS INNOCENT.
TEXT: THE DIPLOMAT, MR. CHO SUNG-WOO, WAS DETAINED LATE LAST
WEEK AT THE HOME OF A RUSSIAN OFFICIAL, AND GIVEN THREE DAYS TO
LEAVE THE COUNTRY.
RUSSIA'S FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICE ACCUSED MR. CHO OF PASSING ON
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SECRETS TO SOUTH KOREAN INTELLIGENCE.
SENIOR SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS HELD AN EMERGENCY
MEETING IN SEOUL ON SATURDAY AFTER RECEIVING MOSCOW'S DEMAND FOR
THE DIPLOMAT'S RECALL.
ON MONDAY SEOUL RETALIATED, WITH ITS VICE FOREIGN MINISTER SUN
JOON-YOUNG SUMMONING A RUSSIAN OFFICIAL TO EXPRESS DEEP CONCERN
THAT THE INCIDENT WILL DAMAGE TIES BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS. MR.
SUN ALSO PROTESTED THAT SOUTH KOREA WAS NOT CONSULTED BEFORE
THE RUSSIAN SIDE MOVED AGAINST MR. CHO.
HE TOLD RUSSIAN CHARGE D'AFFAIRES VALERY SUHINEN THE INCIDENT IS
REGRETTABLE, ADDING THE EXPULSION VIOLATES DIPLOMATIC CONVENTIONS
AND WARRANTS AN EXPLANATION.
MR. CHO, A POLITICAL COUNSELOR AT SOUTH KOREA'S MOSCOW EMBASSY,
HAS BEEN DECLARED PERSONA NON GRATA.
LOCAL PRESS REPORTS SAY HE WILL BE BACK IN SEOUL ON TUESDAY.
THE INCIDENT IS THE FIRST RIFT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND SOUTH KOREA
SINCE THEY NORMALIZED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS IN 1990. (SIGNED)
NEB/JL/GC/WTW
06-Jul-98 6:36 AM EDT (1036 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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