Asia-Pacific

S.Korea spies behind Indonesian break-in -report

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-02-21 10:16

SEOUL - Three agents for South Korea's spy agency broke into a hotel room occupied by a delegation of Indonesian presidential envoys last week, apparently seeking bid secrets for a defence contract, a news report said on Monday.

The trio left after being confronted by a member of the Indonesian delegation, led by a senior cabinet minister. They had been discovered looking at files on a laptop computer, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper said.

"National Intelligence Service employees were looking to identify the Indonesian delegation's negotiating strategy with a view on our national interest," a senior South Korean official was quoted as saying by the Chosun Ilbo.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak met the delegation on Wednesday, with defence contracts among the topics discussed. The group was led by Hatta Rajasa, Indonesia's chief economic minister, and included five other cabinet-level officials, including the defence minister.

The break-in reportedly took place at the time of Lee's meeting with the Indonesian officials, the report said.

The National Intelligence Service denied the report.

South Korea has been bidding for a contract to supply trainer fighter jets to Indonesia, the Chosun Ilbo said.