Quoting an unnamed senior official, the Chosun Ilbo said that a trio, who had broken into the suite room of the Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul and fled after a delegation member saw them copying computer files onto a USB memory stick on Wednesday, were members of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
An NIS official, who wished not to be identified in the media, said his organization "strongly" denies the report by the mass-circulation daily, saying, "(We) have not done such a thing."
"The report is not true," the official said.
The intruders -- two men and one woman, all presumed to be Asian -- were believed to have illegally entered the hotel room in an attempt to steal classified information on Indonesia`s planned arms trade with South Korea, according to local police.
The intruders fled immediately after a member of the delegation abruptly entered the room and saw them copying files from a laptop computer, Chosun said.
The 50-member delegation of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived in Seoul on Tuesday for a three-day visit, which included a courtesy call to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and discussions on expanding bilateral economic and military cooperation, including South Korea`s plan to sell the T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer jet.
The delegation returned home on Thursday.
It has not been confirmed whether the Indonesian government has lodged a diplomatic complaint over the break-in, but Chosun said Jakarta has learned of involvement by the NIS by now.
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Editor: AA Ariwibowo
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
