S. Korea vows to overhaul spy agency amid forgery scandalApril 15, 2014 - 10:12 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - South Korea has promised to overhaul its intelligence agency after three officials were charged with fabricating evidence in a spying case, according to BBC News. President Park Geun-hye said the case had exposed "wrong practices" within the National Intelligence Service. NIS chief Nam Jae-joon promised a "bone-crushing overhaul" of the agency. The NIS is accused of falsifying documents, including Chinese immigration records, to prosecute a North Korean defector. On Monday one of the agency's deputy heads, Suh Cheon-ho, resigned to take responsibility for the case. Three NIS officials are also facing charges in connection with the scandal. It relates to the case of Yoo Woo-seong, a former Seoul government official who defected from North Korea in 2004. He was charged with providing information to Pyongyang about more than 200 North Korean defectors, but subsequently acquitted. When prosecutors appealed, they submitted Chinese immigration records on Mr Yoo's visits to the North - some of which were later found to have been forged. "Regrettably, wrong practices of the NIS and holes in its management system have been revealed," the South Korean president told her cabinet, according to Yonhap news agency. "The NIS must make excruciating efforts to overhaul itself to make sure this kind of incident won't repeat itself." The NIS has faced controversy in the past, including allegations that its agents took part in an online campaign to discredit the opposition candidate during the 2012 presidential election. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |