(Dan Tri) – Very few foreign spies like Black Venus have the ability to get close to the leader of a country considered an opponent, especially a mysterious country like North Korea.
Former Korean spy Park Chae-seo gave an interview in Seoul on August 29 (Photo: AFP)
Before meeting the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, the South Korean spy codenamed `Black Venus` was reminded to stay up late, shower and dress neatly.
In the 1990s, Park Chae-seo played the role of a former Korean military officer who was dissatisfied with the government and turned to becoming a businessman.
Today, the story of spy Black Venus has been adapted into books and movies, thereby revealing many hidden connections between the two divided countries on the Korean peninsula.
In the context that South Korea and North Korea are maintaining a rare diplomatic atmosphere, the book and movie called `The Spy Gone North` has quickly become a popular book.
“Living as a spy is extremely stressful.
However, unlike North Korean spies operating in South Korea, Mr. Park was not given suicide pills so he could quickly end his life if caught.
Secret agent
Park Chae-seo began working in military intelligence in 1990. He was tasked with gathering information about North Korea’s nuclear program when it was still in its infancy.
Mr. Park became friends with a Chinese nuclear physicist of Korean descent.
When Park Chae-seo joined South Korea’s intelligence agency in 1995, he was given the code name Black Venus.
In Beijing, Park Chae-seo works for a Korean company that specializes in importing Chinese agricultural products but labeling Korean goods duty-free.
A big opportunity came to Park Chae-seo when he was said to have arranged for the nephew of Jang Song Thaek, the uncle of current North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, to be released from prison in China by
Mr. Jang’s family then invited Park Chae-seo to Pyongyang.
At that time, North Korea was in dire need of money because its economy was exhausted after its major aid provider, the Soviet Union, disintegrated.
In 1997, after several trips to North Korea, Park Chae-seo was invited to the Paekhwawon Guest House in Pyongyang, where Kim Jong-il often worked at night, to meet with the North Korean leader for 30 minutes.
The late leader Kim Jong-il did not hesitate to shake Mr. Park’s hand when he entered the room.
“His voice was a bit hoarse.
Identity revealed
According to the former Korean spy, Mr. Kim Jong-il also expressed interest in the upcoming Korean presidential election.
Inter-Korean military crises tend to occur during election years in South Korea.
On the eve of South Korea’s presidential election in 1997, North Korean officials revealed to Mr. Park that three supporters of conservative candidate Lee Hoi-chang had suggested that Pyongyang launch an attack.
Park Chae-seo informed his leaders at South Korea’s intelligence agency and the election campaign of liberal candidate Kim Dae-jung, and the information was eventually made public.
Three supporters of candidate Lee Hoi-chang were later convicted of violating South Korea’s national security law, which includes provisions prohibiting contact with North Korea.
Park Chae-seo’s identity was revealed and he was fired by the intelligence agency.
After South Korea’s conservatives returned to power and appointed a new intelligence chief, Mr. Park was arrested in Seoul in 2010 on charges of leaking classified information to North Korea.
`I was held incommunicado for 6 years,` Mr. Park said, describing the government’s imprisonment of him as politically motivated.
Park Chae-seo said that the audio tapes he recorded during meetings with Kim Jong-il, Jang Song Thaek and other high-ranking North Korean officials were not seized at the time of his arrest.
Success
According to SCMP
Nick John