South Korea's NIS says Kusong remarks limited some US intelligence sharing
In short
South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) said on 29 October that some intelligence sharing with the United States is restricted because of Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's remarks on a North Korean nuclear site at Kusong. Newsis reported that the restricted information is some satellite imagery, which the NIS says it can make up with its own reconnaissance assets, and that the NIS says it did not give Chung that information.
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South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) said on 29 October that some intelligence sharing with the United States is limited because of remarks by Unification Minister Chung Dong-young (정동영) about a North Korean nuclear facility at Kusong (구성) and other matters. Yonhap quoted NIS director Lee Jong-seok (이종석) as saying only some information is restricted. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Newsis reported that the NIS told the National Assembly intelligence committee audit, held at the NIS building in Seoul's Seocho district, that it had never given Chung such information. The committee's two whips, Yoon Gun-young (윤건영) of the Democratic Party and Yoo Young-ha (유영하) of the People Power Party, relayed this in a briefing after the session was adjourned. The NIS said that apart from the limit on some information sharing, there is no other restriction. According to Newsis, the limited information is some satellite imagery, and the NIS holds that its own reconnaissance assets can fully make up the shortfall. Asked about criticism that cooperation is not smooth, the NIS replied that apart from this limit, cooperation is going smoothly. [ 4 ]
Newsis said Chung named Kusong in North Pyongan Province as the location of a North Korean uranium enrichment facility at a Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary session on 6 March. The known sites were Yongbyon in North Pyongan and Kangson in Nampo, and controversy arose because Chung disclosed a nuclear facility beyond those. [ 4 ]
The NIS also addressed other reports. On the recent delays and refusals of US visas for Jung Chung-rae (정청래), a former Democratic Party leader, and Jin Sung-joon (진성준), a Democratic Party member who chairs the defence committee, it said US entry procedures have become stricter worldwide and the matter is not only between South Korea and the United States. It said visas are decided by the US Department of Homeland Security, which limits the State Department's role. The NIS called reports that Lee's US visit was refused 'clearly false'. It said he was invited by the US side but did not go, after asking for understanding, given external conditions at the outbreak of the Iran war. On the absence of US Ambassador Michelle Steel (미셸 스틸) and others from the 20th anniversary event of the Korea-US imagery group, it said the director had not officially invited them. It said the idea came up at working level but the list was not approved. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The statement links a cabinet minister's public remarks to a limit on information shared between South Korea and the United States. The documents give the NIS account only, and do not include any response from the US side or from Chung.
Key facts
- NIS director Lee Jong-seok (이종석) said on 29 October that some Korea-US intelligence cooperation is limited because of remarks by Unification Minister Chung Dong-young (정동영) on the Kusong (구성) nuclear facility and other matters. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- According to Newsis, the NIS told the National Assembly intelligence committee audit that it never gave Chung such information, and that no restrictions exist beyond the limit on some information sharing. [ 4 ]
- Newsis reported that the limited information is some satellite imagery, and that the NIS says its own reconnaissance assets can fully make up the shortfall. [ 4 ]
- Chung named Kusong in North Pyongan Province as the site of a North Korean uranium enrichment facility at a National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary session on 6 March, which caused controversy. [ 4 ]
- The NIS called reports that Lee's US visit was refused 'clearly false', saying he did not go after considering external conditions at the outbreak of the Iran war. [ 4 ]
- The NIS said it had not officially invited US Ambassador Michelle Steel (미셸 스틸) and others to a 20th anniversary event of the Korea-US imagery group. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether and how the United States restricted the information. The documents give only the NIS account as relayed by Yonhap and Newsis, with no comment from US officials or from Chung.
- The NIS statement that Chung's Kusong remark was not based on information it provided. Only Newsis reports it, citing the two ruling and opposition committee whips who briefed after the audit was adjourned.
- The NIS statement that its own reconnaissance assets can make up for the limited satellite imagery. This is the NIS position as reported by Newsis; no document tests it.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap publishes a breaking-news item with the NIS director's statement. [ 1 ]
- Korea Economic Daily publishes the same headline as breaking news. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap publishes a fuller report naming NIS director Lee Jong-seok and Minister Chung Dong-young. [ 3 ]
- Newsis publishes details of the NIS briefing from the intelligence committee audit. [ 4 ]