7 jam yang lalu
TWO CHINESE NATIONALS ARE BACK IN CUSTODY AFTER GETTING CAUGHT TAKING PHOTOS OF U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT OUTSIDE OSAN AIR BASE IN SOUTH KOREA.
SOUTH KOREAN POLICE SAID THE PAIR WAS SPOTTED PHOTOGRAPHING FIGHTER JETS FROM PUBLIC ROADS NEAR THE BASE, WHICH HOSTS U.S. FORCES.
THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IN THREE DAYS THEY WERE CAUGHT DOING THE SAME THING.
OFFICIALS SAID THE MEN USED HIGH-END CAMERA EQUIPMENT. AFTER THEY REVIEWED THE IMAGES, AUTHORITIES FOUND NO SIGNS OF ESPIONAGE.
UNDER SOUTH KOREAN LAW, TAKING PHOTOS FROM PUBLIC SPACES ISN’T ILLEGAL UNLESS THERE’S EVIDENCE OF A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT.
THE DETENTIONS COME JUST WEEKS AFTER TWO CHINESE TEENS WERE CAUGHT TAKING THOUSANDS OF PHOTOS NEAR SUWON AIR BASE.
INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY ARRIVED JUST THREE DAYS EARLIER ON TOURIST VISAS AND CLAIMED TO BE AVIATION HOBBYISTS.
ONE TEEN TOLD POLICE HIS FATHER WORKS FOR CHINA’S PUBLIC SECURITY BUREAU, WHICH TRIGGERED A DEEPER INTELLIGENCE PROBE.
ONE SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATING THE CASE SAID THE TEENAGERS’ ACTIONS APPEARED PREMEDITATED BECAUSE THEY BEGAN PHOTOGRAPHING KEY INSTALLATIONS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER ARRIVING IN THE COUNTRY
BOTH TEENS WERE RELEASED BUT THEY’RE BANNED FROM LEAVING SOUTH KOREA WHILE THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.
SO FAR, INVESTIGATORS FROM SOUTH KOREA’S POLICE, NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE AND DEFENSE COUNTERINTELLIGENCE COMMAND SAID THEY HAVEN’T FOUND EVIDENCE OF SPIES, BUT OFFICIALS AREN’T LETTING THEIR GUARD DOWN.
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