Russia ``detains'' South Korean on spying charges... could be a signal of worsening Russia-Korea relations = South Korean report

Various analyzes have emerged as to why Russia arrested Baek, a Korean missionary, on suspicion of espionage earlier this year and has kept him in custody to this day. Russian experts believe that Russia will
It analyzes that Russia is warning against Russia, and advises that the Yun Seo-gyul administration should better control Russia-South Korea relations.
According to Russia's state-run TASS news agency, on the 13th, Russian investigative authorities said, ``Mr. Baek introduced himself as a writer and
We have confirmed that we have received state secret information on the messenger." This media reports that Mr. Baek has been running the travel agency "Berly Kamen" in Vladivostok in Russia's Far East since 2020.
It was reported that it was in operation. Officials from a missionary organization who knew Baek said that Baek was based in Russia's Far East, helping loggers and construction workers dispatched from North Korea, and was also involved in rescuing North Korean defectors.
He claims that he gave it. In contrast, the South Korean government and intelligence authorities have not made any mention of the identity of the former or the details of the incident, raising questions.
Experts say the Russian government usually expels or fines missionaries for illegal missionary work, but detentions on ``espionage'' charges are rare.
It is said that there is no. Professor Choi SungHoon of Korea University of Foreign Studies said, ``There have been cases in which people with diplomatic status have been expelled, and although Russia and South Korea have held talks, there have been no cases in which civilians have been detained.''
``The fact that he revealed his former self through the media can be seen as clearly sending a warning to South Korea.''
Next, Professor Choi said, ``Russia has arrested spies from other countries and exchanged them,'' and ``South Korea has no one to exchange with.''
stomach. If that's the case, we should assume that there was another purpose," he said, raising the need to understand Russia's intentions. Some say that the very fact that this incident was reported is evidence of the deterioration of Russia-Korea relations.
Some claim that it is. Russia-Korea relations are seen to be deteriorating further as the South Korean government has officially begun supporting Ukraine from the US side.
One expert, who requested anonymity, said, ``The conservative Park Geun-hye administration also has a strong commitment to the Korean Peninsula issue.''
Considering the negative impact, it did not take a clear stance on the US' request for Russia to participate in sanctions during the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Despite this, U.S.-South Korea relations were not affected."
``The Yun administration must also move away from diplomacy that is biased toward the United States and develop strategic diplomacy that pursues practical benefits,'' he said. In 2023, President Yoon said in an interview with a foreign news agency that ``civilian
In the event of a large-scale attack on the United States, a genocide that cannot be overlooked by the international community, or a serious violation of the laws of war, humanitarian assistance and financial assistance will be limited.
"It's difficult to get too hung up on," he said, hinting at the possibility of arms support for Ukraine. Russia has also designated South Korea, which has changed its attitude in this way, as an unfriendly country, marking a change from the past.
He has expressed regret for the broken relationship through various channels. However, if this situation continues for a long time, it seems inevitable that relations between Russia and South Korea will deteriorate. Also, the war in Russia ended.
However, it could also have a negative impact on civil exchanges between the two countries. Hong Wan-seok, dean of the Graduate School of International Studies at Korea University of Foreign Studies, said, ``Russia will not help peace on the Korean Peninsula and may interfere at any time.''
``If Russia-Korea relations worsen, Russia and North Korea could conduct training exercises in the Sea of Japan, potentially putting the Korean Peninsula at risk of war.To prevent this, we must get the current situation under control.'' Barana
"Yes," he said. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, ``As soon as the local embassy became aware of the fact that a South Korean national had been arrested, we provided the necessary consular assistance.''
We hope to be able to return to Japan, and are making necessary contacts with the Russian side to achieve this."