Three former South Korean Air Force officers indicted for leaking military information

[News_Editor]

Three former South Korean Air Force officers indicted for leaking military information

2011-08-03 22:23:02 GMT+7 (ICT)

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (BNO NEWS) -- Three former South Korean Air Force officers were indicted on Wednesday for allegedly leaking military information to a U.S. defense firm, prosecutors said.

One of the three indicted was only identified as Kim, an 81-year-old high-ranking officer, who was indicted for releasing classified military information to Lockhead Martin, a U.S. defense and security tech company, the Korea Herald reported. The other two officers were identified as Lee, a former colonel, and another individual who was a senior master sergeant.

Kim led the South Korean Air Force from 1982 to 1984 and, since 1995, he has run a local weapons brokerage firm where the other two defendants worked for him, the newspaper reported. According to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, through the firm, the three officers were able to obtain several contracts from Lockhead Martin in 2009 and 2010 which were worth approximately $2.35 million.

The three former officers, on at least 12 occasions, offered the U.S. firm classified information, including South Korea's joint strategy objective plan, mid-term defense plans, and other documents on the Air Force's plans to increase its military capabilities.

One of the prosecutors noted the gravity of releasing such information as the country's efforts to increase its military capabilities, and therefore, its national security program, would be weakened or even neutralized if the information was revealed or placed in the wrong hands. Given the officers' high rank, prosecutors said the case shows a "serious lack of security awareness" as Kim is also alleged to have released information to North Korea and minutes containing military discussions with Lockhead Martin.

Prosecutors said all three were indicted without detention, but Kim has reportedly denied all charges. Three Lockhead Martin employees, meanwhile, have already been called on over the case but said they were unaware that the information was classified. The U.S. firm said it was aware of the ongoing investigation and was fully cooperating.

"Lockheed Martin is committed to complying with the laws of the United States, Korea, and every country where we do business and we require all of our employees and others working with us to comply with all applicable laws," the firm said.

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