BEIJING // An interpreter for the Chinese president, Hu Jintao, was executed for divulging the content of conversations between the president and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to South Korea, a Hong Kong newspaper reported.
The Apple Daily said on Wednesday that Mr Hu's interpreter, Zhang Liucheng, was found to have worked as a spy for South Korea, and was subsequently executed, citing a report in External Reference, a monthly publication edited by He Pin, a prominent US-based dissident and expert on Chinese internal political affairs. Mr Zhang "revealed confidential conversation records between Hu Jintao and Kim Jong-il", according to the article.
But some China analysts disputed the credibility of the report. Lu Chao, a Chinese expert on North Korea at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences "I often find [Apple Daily's] reports lack credibility. It's likely the same this time," said . One South Korean analyst said Mr Zhang had in fact been executed, but that he had been killed several years ago.
But Yang Moo-jin, an expert on East Asian security at Seoul's University of North Korean Studies, pointed out that a death sentence for espionage is rare in China. Koh Yu-hwan, a professor of North Korea studies at Seoul's Dongguk University, added: "If the report of the execution were true, then there might be other reasons we don't know yet." The report came at a sensitive time for China, which has been the target of international criticism for shielding North Korea from sanctions for its sinking of a South Korean navy ship in March.
The news of the alleged execution drew considerable media attention in South Korea. While China's state-controlled media are silent, news of the report is spreading on Chinese blogs and web forums in such major portals as Sohu.com and China's largest online discussion forum, Tianya. Media outlets in Hong Kong are freer than those on the mainland as Beijing offers more liberty to Hong Kong's media in its "one country, two systems" policy.
Mr Zhang served as the deputy director of the Koreas Division at the International Department of the Communist Party of China. The department is the primary body in China that handled the logistics of Mr Kim's visit to China. Mr Zhang was not the translator in the summit between Mr Hu and Mr Kim in May. Mr Hu became "furious" about the incident, the Apple Daily report said, but because of the sensitivity of the issue, and to keep China's relationship with South Korea on an even keel, Beijing carried out Mr Zhang's execution in secret.
Mr Zhang was arrested during an ongoing anti-spy operation by the ministry of public security - named Operation Spring Sunshine - which primarily deals with counter-intelligence activities by Japan, South Korea and the North, the report said. The operation has previously uncovered other cases of espionage by China's neighbours. These include Li Dunqiu, a researcher with the State Council, China's government cabinet, who reportedly handed over state secrets to North Korea.
In another case in 2007, Wang Qing, a colonel with China's People's Liberation Army, was executed for selling military secrets to Japan, Apple Daily reported. In the same year, Yu Jiafu, the foreign affairs bureau chief at Xinhua news agency, was arrested by the state security agency for distributing state secrets to Japanese and South Korean diplomats. foreigndesk@thenational.ae
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
Specs – Taycan 4S
Engine: Electric
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 571bhp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh431,800
Specs – Panamera
Engine: 3-litre V6 with 100kW electric motor
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 455bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: from Dh431,800
Freezer tips
- Always make sure food is completely cool before freezing.
- If you’re cooking in large batches, divide into either family-sized or individual portions to freeze.
- Ensure the food is well wrapped in foil or cling film. Even better, store in fully sealable, labelled containers or zip-lock freezer bags.
- The easiest and safest way to defrost items such as the stews and sauces mentioned is to do so in the fridge for several hours or overnight.
Company%20profile
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Results
Stage 4
1. Dylan Groenewegen (NED) Jumbo-Visma 04:16:13
2. Gaviria (COL) UAE Team Emirates
3. Pascal Ackermann (GER) Bora-Hansgrohe
4. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal
General Classification:
1. Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 16:46:15
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:07
3. Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 0:01:35
4. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:40
5. Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
UAE squad
Men's draw: Victor Scvortov and Khalifa Al Hosani, (both 73 kilograms), Sergiu Toma and Mihail Marchitan (90kg), Ivan Remarenco (100kg), Ahmed Al Naqbi (60kg), Musabah Al Shamsi and Ahmed Al Hosani (66kg)
Women’s draw: Maitha Al Neyadi (57kg)
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
French Touch
Carla Bruni
(Verve)
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
Command%20Z
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
