South Korea arrests two Chinese nationals for military espionage

South Korean authorities have arrested two Chinese citizens, both former members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, on suspicion of military espionage. The suspects are accused of attempting to gather critical information regarding joint military exercises conducted by South Korean and United States forces.

One suspect, a man in his 60s, allegedly used professional equipment while staying at a hotel near Gunsan Air Base to intercept radio communications between South Korean and US fighter jets. His visits to the country under tourist visas reportedly coincided with joint air force drills.

The second suspect, a 45-year-old ethnic Korean with Chinese citizenship, is accused of recruiting a South Korean woman employed at Camp Humphreys—the largest US military base outside the United States—to obtain secret information about military exercises. Both men face charges of aiding the enemy, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment in South Korea.