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)
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Source: Voice of America
.