South Korean citizen detained on spying charges in Russia, state media reports
A South Korean citizen, named as Baek Won Soon, has been detained in Russia on spying charges, Russian news agency Tass reported on Monday, citing local law enforcement.
The South Korean was identified during an espionage investigation in Vladivostok, where a court decided to detain him, and was then taken to Moscow for “investigative actions,” where he is currently being held in a pre-trial detention centre, Tass reported.
Law enforcement agencies are accusing the man of passing on information classified as state secrets to foreign intelligence services according to Tass.
CNBC could not independently verify the report. Neither the Russian foreign ministry nor the South Korean embassy in London immediately responded to CNBC’s request for comment.
— Sophie Kiderlin
NATO holds accession ceremony for Sweden
Officials prepare to hoist the Swedish national flag during a flag raising ceremony for Sweden’s accession to NATO at the North Atlantic Alliance headquarters in Brussels, on March 11, 2024.
John Thys | Afp | Getty Images
NATO held its accession ceremony for Sweden, the 32nd member of the transatlantic Western alliance, which officially joined last week nearly two years after it first bid to join the organization.
The Swedish flag was raised at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, for the first time as Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson gave remarks.
“Sweden brings high-end capabilities, first-class military forces, and spends more than 2% of GDP on defense,” Stoltenberg said.
“Sweden’s accession shows again that NATO’s door remains open. No one can close it. Sweden has taken its rightful place at NATO’s table under the shield of Article 5 protection – the ultimate guarantee of our freedom and security. All for one and one for all.”
In separate remarks, Stoltenberg said that Ukraine is…
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