France arrests official on spying charges for North Korea

PARIS, Nov 27 (AFP): Intelligence agencies have arrested a senior French civil servant who worked at the French Senate on suspicion of passing confidential information to the dictatorial regime of North Korea, a judicial source told AFP.

Benoit Quennedey, who is also the president of the Franco-Korean Friendship Association and has written a book on the isolated nation, was taken into custody late Sunday, the source in Paris said late on Monday.

After an inquiry which began in March, prosecutors suspect him of the "collection and delivery of information to a foreign power likely to undermine the fundamental interests of the nation", the source said.

Quennedey is being held at the headquarters of France's DGSI domestic intelligence agency outside Paris.

The French news and talk show Le Quotidien, which first reported the story, said he was arrested at his home and his Senate office had been searched.

According to the Senate website, Quennedey is a senior administrator in France's upper house of parliament in the department of architecture, heritage and gardens, in charge of administration and finances.