AMERICAN HELD AS SPY IN S. KOREA.

Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency.

Associated Press (AP)

Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world.

South Koreans arrested a U.S. businessman Wednesday, charging him with collecting classified information on the country's arms procurement The fancy word for "purchasing." The procurement department within an organization manages all the major purchases. plans.

Intelligence officials said Donald Ratcliffe, 62, identified himself as head of the Far Eastern operations for Litton Industry Inc.'s Guidance and Control Systems Division. The company is a U.S. defense contractor Noun 1. defense contractor - a contractor concerned with the development and manufacture of systems of defense
armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; based in Woodland Hills.

Ratcliffe was accused of gathering the weapons secrets from a South Korean air force Korean air force may refer too:

Korean People's Army Air Force, Air Force of North Korea
Republic of Korea Air Force, Air Force of South Korea

lieutenant LIEUTENANT. This word has now a narrower meaning than it formerly had; its true meaning is a deputy, a substitute, from the French lieu, (place or post) and tenant (holder). Among civil officers we have lieutenant governors, who in certain cases perform the duties of governors; (vide, the colonel and others since 1995.

Jim Coles, spokesman of the U.S. military command in Seoul, said the businessman has no affiliation with U.S. forces in South Korea.

The national news agency Yonhap said the classified data Ratcliffe has allegedly acquired included information regarding South Korea's plan to buy early-warning aircraft within the next five years.

Ratcliffe turned himself in Wednesday after South Korean authorities began searching for him. The intelligence agency refused to give further details.

Litton spokesman Robert Stangarone said Ratcliffe has been a Litton employee for 20 years and is based in Thailand.

``We are aware that he has been arrested. We have not been informed of the charges, so it is premature to speculate,'' Stangarone said. ``We are not aware of any wrongdoing wrong·do·er
n.
One who does wrong, especially morally or ethically.

wrongdo and we plan to cooperate with Korean authorities.''

Litton's Guidance and Control Systems Division is involved in the development and manufacture of navigation and guidance systems for military aircraft, land vehicles, missiles and ships.

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Publication:	Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Geographic Code:	1USA
Date:	May 1, 1997
Words:	237
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