Seoul: Police launched an investigation Monday into two Chinese nationals on suspicions of illegally filming fighter jets near Osan Air Base, which is used by the U.S. Air Force. The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency said it is considering whether to book the two individuals for investigation on charges of violating the Protection of Military Bases and Installation Act.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the two were suspected of illegally taking photos of the base and fighter jets around Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 63 kilometers south of Seoul, Monday morning. It was not immediately known which specific facilities or equipment were captured in the images.
No suspected espionage has been detected so far, as police continue the investigation in collaboration with the National Intelligence Service and the Defense Security Command, according to officials. It marks another suspected case of illegal filming targeting military facilities involving Chinese nationals, following the apprehension of two Chinese teenagers for illegally filming fighter jets landing and taking off from an air base in Suwon, south of Seoul, last month.
Police have obtained a statement indicating that the father of one of them is a public security officer and have booked both individuals for investigation. Police have discovered that they took thousands of photos of Osan Air Base; another military air base in Cheongju, about 120 km south of Seoul; the U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek; and three international airports in Incheon, Gimpo and Jeju Island.