SEOUL: A two-star South Korean general was charged Tuesday with leaking secrets to North Korea, including the South`s war plan in case of attack, military officials said.

The secrets include a contingency plan prepared by US and South Korean troops in case of war with the North, the defence ministry said in a statement.

The major-general, identified only as Kim, was detained last month. He allegedly gave the classified information to an agent in return for 26 million won (around 21,500 dollars).

But Kim, 58, would not face spying charges because he did not know that the military secrets would be passed on to the North, the ministry said.

The agent, a former South Korean spy identified only as Park, was recruited by North Korea while living in China in the 1990s.

The ministry said Park had been charged with espionage for handing military secrets including the war plan to a North Korean spy in China in return for an unspecified payment.

Espionage is theoretically punishable with a death sentence.

The ministry said a third man from a South Korean defence firm was charged with collecting classified information for Park.

It said the case "revealed the lack of a security mindset" against North Korea and security education for military officers would be strengthened.

The South periodically detains people accused of spying for its communist neighbour. The two nations have remained technically at war since their 1950-53 conflict ended only in an armistice.

A female North Korean spy was arrested and jailed for five years in 2008. She had admitted having sex with a South Korean army officer to secure secret information.


BDST: 1022 HRS, July 20, 2010