Seoul: South Korean police have arrested two former Chinese military officers on allegations of intercepting military communications and obtaining classified information related to joint South Korea-US exercises, local media reported Tuesday.

According to Anadolu Agency, one suspect in his 60s and a former member of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) allegedly made repeated visits to South Korea on tourist visas and intercepted communications between fighter jets and air traffic control towers. Yonhap News Agency, citing the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police, reported that he operated from a hotel near an airport in the southwestern city of Gunsan. His visits began in January 2024 and reportedly coincided with regular South Korea-US Air Force exercises.

The suspect told investigators that listening to aircraft communications was his 'hobby,' but authorities are investigating whether information was passed to Chinese authorities.

A second suspect, a 45-year-old ethnic Korean Chinese national and retired PLA officer, allegedly recruited a South Korean woman working at Camp Humphreys, a major US military base in Pyeongtaek, to obtain classified information on allied forces exercises. Police said he concealed his identity while operating a US military supplies store near the base and allegedly conducted the activities between November 2021 and May.

Both suspects face charges that include benefiting the enemy and violations of laws protecting military information and communications.