Will Russia Use Arrested South Korean Accused of Espionage as a Political Negotiation Card?

AP=Yonhap News

A South Korean arrested for suspicion of espionage in Vladivostok, Russia, is known to be a missionary who has been involved in rescuing North Korean defectors. Foreign media have suggested that Russia may use this as a political negotiation card. This is because Russia designated South Korea, which sided with the West and criticized Russia in the Ukraine War, as an unfriendly country. Moreover, Russia’s intensified close relationship with North Korea was also the reason.

According to Russian investigative authorities, Mr. Baek was arrested on suspicion of handing over confidential information to a foreign intelligence agency. As the data is classified as top secret, the Russian court extended Baek’s detention period by three months on the 11th.

AP also stated that Russia has detained several foreigners over the past year and charged them with crimes.

The report said that in March last year, Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested on suspicion of espionage and has been detained for a year, and in October, Russian-American reporter Alsu Kurmasheva of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) was arrested on charges of not registering as a foreign agent and later charged with spreading false information about the Russian military.

[yarpp]

Last month, news came out that a German man was arrested on suspicion of smuggling narcotics, and it was confirmed that Ksenia Khavana, a dual citizen of the United States and Russia, was charged with treason for donating to a Ukrainian charity in the same month.

Earlier, the Russian TASS news agency reported the news of Baek’s arrest, saying, “We have confirmed the identity of a South Korean during the investigation of espionage crimes.” This is the first time a Korean has been arrested in Russia on suspicion of espionage. Baek was detained in Vladivostok earlier this year and was transferred to Moscow for further investigation at the end of last month, where he is currently being held in Lefortovo prison.”