Former NASA Researcher to Be Deported

A former NASA researcher has been ordered deported as a suspected North Korean agent following a hearing at which he was not allowed to see all the evidence against him.

Jong-Hun Lee denied any wrongdoing Saturday and said he is being punished for refusing to spy on the communist country. Lee, 48, a Canadian citizen, said he is of North Korean descent but was born and raised in Japan.

He has been in this country since 1990 on a temporary work visa.

Lee was ordered back to Canada on Friday by federal immigration Judge Michael Suarez, partly on the basis of classified FBI information that Suarez refused to divulge to either Lee or his attorney, Herbert Gee.

Lee said neither he nor his lawyer was allowed to attend the government’s closing statements Wednesday.

Ironically, Lee initiated the hearing himself when he petitioned for permanent residency.

The judge said he was shown no evidence that Lee actually collected information for North Korea. But Suarez cited Lee’s past relationship with Korean scientists living in Japan and said he could be subject to pressure from the North Korean government because he has a brother who moved there.

Lee first came to the United States in 1983, and conducted research on high-speed flight for NASA until 1985.

Lee claims the FBI agents asked him in 1985 to spy on North Korea for the United States and Canada and he is now being punished for his refusal.

Justice Department officials could not be reached on Saturday. An FBI spokesman said he could not comment because his office was not involved in the matter.