Seoul′s top envoy visited S. Korean national detained in China on suspicion of espionage in March

▲ This illustration image shows a semiconductor chip with the Chinese flag. (Yonhap)

S Korean-China-detention

Seoul's top envoy visited S. Korean national detained in China on suspicion of espionage in March

BEIJING, Nov. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top envoy to Beijing visited in person earlier this year the location in China where a South Korean national is being held on suspicion of espionage, a senior embassy official said Monday.

Ambassador Chung Jae-ho visited the unidentified facility on March 27 and met the detained South Korean citizen, the official told South Korean correspondents in Beijing.

Last week, Chinese authorities confirmed the arrest and detention of the 50-something individual on suspicion of violating the country's anti-espionage law.

"There were talks about whether there were any violations of human rights, about health conditions and if there were any items needed," the official said, without providing further details about the conversation.

"Consular visits are controlled by the Chinese authorities in ways that no conversation about the incident is allowed," the official said. "From what we've gathered from the visit, we understand that there were no violations of human rights."

Another embassy official said there was no physical abuse or harsh treatment.

"It's difficult to comment on whether the anti-espionage law infringes on the human rights of our citizen. We cannot comment either regarding the length of the detention, since the measures taken by the Chinese government are in line with Chinese law."

The South Korean embassy has also repeatedly requested the Chinese authorities allow the individual to take prescriptions for diabetes, a condition the person has had for more than a decade.

But Beijing has refused to provide the medication, saying the glucose levels are within the normal range, according to officials.

The South Korean national, living in Heifei, in China's eastern province of Anhui, was arrested late last year on suspicion that the person leaked semiconductor-related information to South Korea as the individual was working for a chipmaker in China.

It marked the first time that a South Korean national was arrested in China on suspicion of violating the anti-espionage law.

South Korea's foreign ministry has said it is aware of the detention and providing necessary consular assistance.

China revised the anti-espionage law by broadening the meaning of espionage activities and the scope of its application. The revised law took effect in July last year.

The law bars the obtainment and transfer of information related to "national security and interests," spawning concerns that foreign nationals in China could face punishment despite normal business activities.

(END)