Posted on : Oct.24,2006 15:57 KST
Fate revealed yesterday by veterans’ ministry data
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) dispatched spies to North Korea as recently as 1994, and eight among them who were killed in the line of duty have been officially recognized, according to data obtained from the veterans’ ministry.
Data from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs showed that there were at least 10 special agents belonging to the NIS in its former incantation, the Agency of National Security Planning, or the Korea Central Inteligence Agency, who were recorded as dead because they never returned after being sent to North Korea. The data was made public by Rep. Kim Young-joo of the governing Uri Party on October 23.
Eight out of those 10 spies were admitted as national patriots by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the remaining two are under consideration for the honor, said Rep. Kim.
Five of the 10 agents were sent as recently as 1994, although a 1972 joint statement signed by the South and the North agreed that either side would not dispatch armed agents to the other, added Rep. Kim.
Rep. Kim said, "Since this situation was revealed only by data from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs," rather than by the NIS, the agency that actually sent the agents to the North, "there may have been additional spies dispatched to the North. We should restore their honor through telling their true story and healing the pain of their families," said Rep. Kim.
