Korean spies botch government orders

National Intelligence Service agents were discovered to have botched government orders for overseas South Koreans to take precautions when traveling abroad.

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Following the Cheonan incident, the Foreign Ministry sent out official letters in May calling for its overseas embassies to urge residents to become more vigilant towards North Koreans.

This was a result of Seoul concluding that month that a North Korean attack was responsible for the sinking of the ship, causing 46 sailors to lose their lives. Pyongyang denies any involvement.

Agents at the nation's spy agency stationed at embassies in Malaysia and Nepal botched the precautionary measures handed down by the government.

Agents apparently sent out e-mails warning residents that any contact with North Koreans, including visits to North Korean restaurants, may be regarded as a violation of security laws.

Beijing embassies allegedly sent out messages calling for traveling agencies to refrain from taking South Korean tourists to North Korean restaurants.

The headquarters of NIS

"There seems to have been a bit of an over-interpretation," said one government official on the condition of anonymity.

In one of the embassies, agents even issued the warnings in a public bulletin for the South Korean community.

This is not the first time that NIS work has gone awry.

South Korea is currently struggling to mend relations with Libya due to a "misunderstanding" caused by a number of South Korean agents.

The North African country is reportedly fuming over NIS officials who tried to gather information about its leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The agents also are suspected of investigating into North Korean defense industries in Libya.

North Korea has in the past traded weapons with Libya.

Diplomatic sources here said the agents' conduct was in line with the normal information-gathering activities of the NIS.

Others close to the matter, however, said the agents most likely meddled in affairs related to sensitive issues including Gaddafi.

Libya deported the agents on June 18, condemning them as "unfriendly" to Libya and its government.

Libya also pulled out its entire workforce from its de facto embassy in South Korea.

It has also detained two South Koreans in Libya for illegal missionary work.

The Libyan government claims the events are not connected.

South Korean officials are in Libya for talks regarding the agents' activities.

They have already held several rounds of discussions, and the South Korean government said it has seen "progress."

South Korea has major economic relations at stake with Libya.

South Korean construction firms have over 50 projects in Libya, valued at around $9 billion.

Libya also stands as South Korea's second-largest export destination in Africa.

In May this year, the NIS has come under fire for following a U.N. official.

Agents allegedly tailed Frank La Rue, the U.N. Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression who was here for a review of human rights conditions.

La Rue claimed that he was tailed and videotaped by agents.

The NIS denies all allegations.

By Kim Ji-hyun (jemmie@heraldm.com)