South Korea’s relations with Libya are swiftly deteriorating over alleged espionage activities by a South Korean official, diplomatic sources said on Tuesday.

The sources said Libya was upset because of information-gathering activities by a National Intelligence Service agent who was looking into defense industry cooperation between North Korea and Libya.

Pyongyang has traded weapons with Libya in the past.

But the Libyan media claimed that Libya’s fury was actually targeted at probes into the activities of leader Muammar Gaddafi and his son. It said that the Libyan government was angered by the official’s investigation into Gaddafi, who has led Libya since the 1969 coup.

The South Korean government acknowledged such reports but denied that the current case involved Gaddafi.

One high-ranking official said that the agent’s information-gathering work was a normal part of the spy agency’s overseas conduct. 

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi attends the 15th summit of the African Union (AU) Summit in Kampala, capital of Uganda, on July 25. (Yonhap)

Despite these claims, the NIS worker was banished from Libya on June 18, according to Seoul officials.

“Libya seems to be quite upset over the matter, and there appears to be a misunderstanding on their part,” one government official said. “The two nations would have to hurry and patch up their ties before Libya takes harsher actions.”

A group of South Korean officials are currently in Libya for related negotiations for solving the misunderstanding.

Libya pulled out its entire workforce at its trade mission in South Korea last month. They took leave without notifying Seoul, and their departure has paralyzed all consular and other diplomatic operations between the two nations as the mission serves as the Libyan embassy here. 

South Koreans seeking visas to Libya must receive their certification after they arrive there, Foreign Ministry officials said.

As indication of intent to further shun of Seoul, Gaddafi refused to meet Lee Sang-deuk, who was sent as a special envoy by President Lee Myung-bak last month.

Lee, who also is the president’s elder brother, had pre-planned the trip to discuss mutual economic issues. He was later found to have touched upon the alleged espionage issue and tried to appease the Libyan government.

Seoul initially refused to give the details of the incident, saying it “breached national interests.”

In a separate case, the Libyan government last month arrested two South Koreans for missionary-related activities.

Those close to the matter said the arrests may have come as a part of the soured relations as they occurred after the spy agency worker was banished from Libya.

Relations between South Korea and Libya mostly center on business issues.

Libya stands as South Korea’s fourth-largest construction market.

Seoul has undergone many large-scale projects there, such as the construction of water canals.

There is a multi-billion construction project that South Korean companies are bidding for in the North African state.

Furthermore, South Korea and Libya mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.

It seems that the events planned to celebrate the anniversary will have to be postponed, a government official said.

(jemmie@heraldm.com)