China confirms detention of S. Korean national in suspected violation of anti-espionage law

China confirmed Tuesday that it has detained a South Korean citizen on suspicion of violating the country's anti-espionage law, Beijing's foreign ministry said, marking the first arrest of a South Korean national on such a charge. China has notified the South Korean Embassy in Beijing of the incident related to the arrest, according to Lin Jian, a spokesperson at China's foreign ministry. "As a law-governing country, China has detected an illegal activity in accordance with the law while guaranteeing the person's legitimate rights," he said. The 50-something person, living in Hefei, China's Anhui Province, is believed to have been arrested late last year on charges of violating the anti-espionage law. It marked the first time that a South Korean national was arrested in China on suspicion of violating the anti-espionage law. Source: Yonhap News Agency