[USFK Forums] Security & Terrorism [UPI]

[C. Y. Lee]

[Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2005] This article coming from UPI from Washington is uploaded as follows:
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Security & Terrorism

UPI Inteligence Watch

By JOHN C.K. DALY

UPI International Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- South Korea's National Intelligence Service, or NIS, recently reported to the National Assembly that North Korea sent as many as 670 secret dispatches to the South over the last four years. Analysts believe that since the number only includes dispatches that were discovered the actual total is probably far higher.

In 2004 a representative of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee speaking on condition of anonymity said, "There were around 80,000 messages that we assume to be North Korean orders to spies and pro-North underground groups."

During the last four years the NIS has arrested 13 North Korean spies, Dong-A Ilbo news agency reported.

South Korea's controversial National Security Law imposes long sentences or the death penalty for loosely defined "anti-state" activities or espionage.
While most details about the NIS are classified, a 1998 investigation of the intelligence service by the Sisa journal estimated that it had 7,000 employees and an annual budget of nearly $700 million. On its Web site the NIS lists its mission as the "collection, coordination, and distribution of information on the nation's strategy and security."

Founded in 1961 as the Korea Central Intelligence Agency, the agency was renamed the National Intelligence Service in 1999. The agency was notorious during the Cold War for its ruthless actions against enemies on behalf of South Korea's anti-communist authoritarian leaders.

In light of recent bugging scandals of political leaders South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun's administration is proposing to reform the NIS.

[Mr. Joe]

Good luck on "reforming" any organization where there has been essentially no oversight or control by a higher agency. Corruption comes easy when you have a big budget and no one watching. Wiretaps and bugging are a way of life, and a necessity for such an agency. The difficult part is keeping the results from being used for blackmail by unscrupulous agents. Who can you trust?
P.S. I used to teach English to a relative of the former CIA Director, Mr. Lee, Hu Rak, I wonder if he is still living?