A South Korean commercial airline pilot who allegedly supports North Korea has been ordered to stop flying because police fear he could hijack a plane and take it to the communist North.
The 44-year-old Korean Air pilot, identified only as Kim, has been questioned by South Korean police for allegedly posting articles on the internet praising Kim Jong-Il and the communist North.
During a raid on the pilot's home, investigators found books on North Korea and computer files praising the regime in Pyongyang.
South Korea bans the distribution of publications or other material praising North Korea as well as unauthorised contact with its people. Offenders can face heavy jail terms.
The police have ordered Kim to stop flying, fearing he could hijack a plane and take it to the North.
"We were concerned that Kim may later try to do something drastic under certain circumstances, like diverting a plane to the North," a South Korean detective said.
The detective says Kim was suspected of being a member of a pro-Pyongyang online group in the South, whose internet servers were confiscated by police last week.
He says about 40 among 7,000 members of the group, called the Cyber Command for National Defence, are being questioned by police.
A spokeswoman for Korean Air says the airline is embarrassed and shocked by the revelations.
She says Kim will be suspended from all duties at the request of police.
"We made the decision [to suspend Kim] for the safety of passengers, which is our top priority," the spokeswoman said.
Crackdowns on pro-Pyongyang activists and spies have increased since the conservative government of president Lee Myung-Bak took office in early 2008 and unveiled a tougher policy on cross-border relations.
Korean Air pilot under investigation for pro-N. Korean activities
A Korean Air pilot has been under police investigation for allegedly posting dozens of pro-North Korean messages and other material on his website in breach of the country’s National Security Law.
The National Police Agency said Wednesday that a 45-year-old captain surnamed Kim started a website (www.scintoy.com) in August 2006 and had posted more than 60 articles and video clips that criticized the South Korean government and instead promoted the North’s propaganda. Some of pro-North Korean material was found to have been produced in the communist state.
Under relevant laws, South Koreans cannot view pro-North Korea information either on- or offline. Those who distribute and promote pro-North material are subject to prosecution.
Police banned the pilot from leaving the country and asked the nation’s largest flagship carrier to prevent him from working as he may defect to the Stalinist state.
"We received a tip in January that Kim was engaged in spreading propaganda online. On Tuesday, investigators raided and searched his home, confiscating about 10 pro-North Korean books and a computer hard disc that may contain material promoting the North’s systems,’’ a police officer said.
He said after examining seized items, investigators will summon him for questioning.
"We will also interrogate the pilot about whether he was engaged in offline activities such as contacting North Korean spies or South Korean nationals sympathetic to the communist state. We asked Korean Air to suspend him from flying airplanes as there is the risk he may steer a plane to the North to avoid prosecution,’’ the officer said.
Police also found that Kim is a member of a pro-North website opened on Naver, Korea’s largest web portal, whose operator was indicted for breaking the National Security Law in June. The 43-year-old individual surnamed Hwang made headlines in late June by shouting ``Praise General Kim Il-sung’’ during a trial.
Last month, the Suwon District Court sentenced him to 10 months in prison.
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