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Ex-Navy analyst pleads guilty to espionage
Attorney: It was 'only to aid' an ally
May 7, 1997Web posted at: 6:00 p.m. EDT
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (CNN) -- A former U.S. Naval Intelligence analyst pleaded guilty to giving military documents last year to a representative of the South Korean government.
"I am guilty," 57-year-old Robert Kim told U.S. District Court Judge Leonie M. Brinkema Wednesday.
Brinkema set sentencing for July 11. Kim could receive up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine.
Kim was arrested in September at a diplomatic reception at Fort Myer, Virginia, and charged with passing classified information to a South Korean navy captain who worked at the embassy.
Kim was originally indicted on three espionage charges that he had passed, or attempted to pass, classified documents concerning North and South Korea, China and a computerized maritime tracking system.
But the government agreed to a reduced charge of conspiracy to commit espionage to avoid a trial that would involve making public what it says are highly sensitive government secrets. Prosecutor Rob Chestnut claims that the information passed to the South Korean government was "very damaging to U.S. interests."
Attorney: It was 'only to aid' an ally
But defense attorney James Gore said that the information Kim gave to South Korea did not damage U.S. security, and that Kim intended no harm. Gore noted that Kim received no money for the documents and had passed the documents "only to aid a U.S. ally."
Kim, a native of South Korea, is a naturalized American citizen and worked for the Naval Intelligence for 18 years as a civilian computer specialist.
He was dismissed from his job after the arrest, and has been in jail since.
Related stories:
- Former Navy analyst pleads innocent to espionage - March 31, 1997
- Pentagon assesses impact of spy allegations - September 26, 1996
- U.S. Navy analyst charged with spying for South Korea - September 25, 1996
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