Mr. Choi was a naturalized Australian citizen who had lived in the country for more than 30 years, the police said. “We think he’s acting as an economic agent on behalf of North Korea,” Mr. Gaughan said at a news conference. The police said evidence suggested that Mr. Choi had been in “contact with high-ranking officials in North Korea” but would not comment further. The crew was arrested and later deported, and the North Korean embassy closed five years later. Mr. Gaughan, the police official, called Mr. Choi’s arrest a sign of Australia’s commitment to upholding international sanctions on North Korea.

Source: New York Times December 17, 2017 07:07 UTC