The Sorge spy ring was compromised when Yotoku Miyagi was arrested by the police and interrogated over several days. Miyagi refused to talk despite repeated beatings by the police but attempted to commit suicide unsuccessfully by jumping out of a second floor window. He subsequently caved under pressure and acknowledged that he was a part of Sorge's Communist spy ring.

The Japanese High Police (Kempei Tai) were called in and arrested Ozaki, eventually beating a confession out of him. Although afraid of causing an International incident by arresting Sorge and Klausen, they decided to arrest them. On October 18, 1941, Japanese police conducted a sweep, arresting Sorge, Klausen and Vukelic. They discovered several messages in plain sight that Klausen was prepared to send to Moscow as well as evidence in the possession of Sorge and Vukelic. Klausen eventually implicated Sorge and Vukelic refused to admit anything. Vukelic would eventually draw life sentence as did Klausen. After six days of brutal torture, Sorge confessed to his part in the spy ring.

On November 7, 1944, Sorge and Ozaki were executed by hanging.

Sorge is remembered as one of the Soviet Union's most accomplished and valuable spies. He was named a hero of the Soviet state in 1964 and eventually had a postage stamp in his likeness issued.