A South Korean company and three South Korean nationals have been indicted in the United States for illegal defense technology exports to South Korea.

The U.S. Deparment of Justice issued a statement Tuesday saying that a federal grand jury in Ohio has returned an indictment charging EO System Company and three South Koreans with knowingly exporting or helping export defense articles on the U.S. Munitions List without proper authorization.

The indictment charges that in 2005 the defendants had a role in exporting from the United States to South Korea five telescopes listed as U.S. defense articles.

U.S. Attorney Stephen Dettelbach said the three defendants — Seok Hwan Lee, Tae Young Kim and Won Seung Lee — are charged with violating important regulations designed to protect national security.