Minister says cell phones can be tapped

Minister of Information and Communication Chin Dae-je admitted yesterday for the first time that cell phones can be wiretapped. The information minister had previously insisted that such eavesdropping was practically impossible, even after the National Intelligence Service admitted on Aug. 5 to having intercepted cell phone conversations. At a press briefing yesterday, Mr. Chin said the National Intelligence Service had apparently intercepted conversations as they moved between base stations and the switchboards of mobile phone companies, the point at which such conversations are transmitted by wire. He explained that intercepting cell phone discussions transmitted wirelessly is extremely difficult. But Mr. Chin added that only the national authorities have the know-how, manpower and resources needed to carry out such operations. Mr. Chin said that U.S. laws allow its intelligence agencies to bug mobile phone conversations by bugging switchboards of cell phone companies, adding that Korea should also allow such procedures for the sake of national security. In order to allay public concern over wiretapping, the Information Ministry has decided to introduce a new system that encodes mobile phone conversations by the end of next year. It is considering offering low-priced portable equipment that detects wiretapping, Mr. Chin said. Yesterday, the government and the Uri Party also decided to crack down on illegal eavesdropping by private detective agencies. “Illegal tapping by private investigators has so far been overlooked,” said Chong Jang-sung, an Uri Party lawmaker. He said that authorities including the Information Ministry and National Police Agency will start tackling such activities next month. by Lee Hee-sung, Park Sung-ha