Digital Chosunilbo (English Edition) Updated Sep.26,2003

Indictment for Exile Considered

by Lee Jin-seok (island@chosun.com)

Prosecutors met with National Intelligence Service agents on Friday to discuss whether an indictment is possible for the controversial exile and Korean-German professor Song Du-yul.

The Seoul District Public Prosecutors Office said that as soon as the intelligence agency finishes its investigation it would contact Song for a supplementary investigation and to seek confirmation on confidential information that the agency obtained from North Korea and China.

A source at the prosecutors office, asked whether it would consider North-South relations before deciding whether to press charges against Song, said that the priority would be on whether Song broke the law or not. Prosecutors are reportedly considering plans to push ahead with an indictment.

But with some public authorities wanting the situation handled differently, the prosecutors said conflict might be unavoidable.

The intelligence agency reportedly found out after its four days of interrogating Song that he had used the name "Kim Chul-soo" during his visits to North Korea. It is now conducting further investigations to confirm whether Song, under the pseudonym, was a secret member of North Korea's Workers Party.

Because Song is cooperating with the investigation and because it might cause some diplomatic discord with Germany, the intelligence agency will not issue a search warrant for Song's residence in Germany.