NYT Reports 'National Security Office Kim Seong-han and Lee Moon-hee Conversation Wiretapping'
Presidential Office "Difficult to Simply Compare with the Past Due to War"
Possibility of Summit Variables... Public Opinion and Political Reactions on Alert
As a spying and wiretapping incident involving the U.S. intelligence agency targeting allied countries has emerged, attention is focused on its potential impact on the upcoming South Korea-U.S. summit scheduled in about two weeks. Regarding the suspicion that conversations of key officials from South Korea's National Security Council (NSC) were wiretapped, the Presidential Office has drawn a line by stating it is a "problem that can be overcome," but concerns are rising that the significance of the state visit to the U.S. marking the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance may be diminished.
According to the Presidential Office on the 10th, President Yoon Suk-yeol was briefed on the meeting held the previous day, chaired by National Security Office Director Cho Tae-yong, and instructed to carefully examine the matter while urging strengthened communication with the U.S. government. A senior official from the Presidential Office added, "If a proper investigation is conducted independently in the U.S., there will be no problem regarding the summit or the visit to the U.S.," and emphasized, "The communication channel with the U.S. is always open."
According to reports from U.S. media such as The New York Times (NYT), the leaked confidential documents from the U.S. administration contain evidence that the U.S. has been conducting spying and wiretapping on allied countries, including South Korea. Notably, the documents include content mentioning that former diplomatic secretary Lee Moon-hee proposed changing existing policy to disclose weapons support to Ukraine, as well as conversations expressing concern that former National Security Office chief Kim Sung-han might be misunderstood as having traded the South Korea-U.S. summit for weapons support.
As the two governments were coordinating a state visit to the U.S. for the first time in 12 years to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, they are concerned about the controversy escalating. In the U.S., the Department of Justice is reportedly investigating the suspected leak of confidential documents on social media. The U.S. Department of Defense responded to domestic media inquiries by stating, "The Department of Defense is actively reviewing this matter," and added, "An official investigation has been requested from the Department of Justice."
The Presidential Office also cautioned against overinterpretation by stating the previous day, "We are well aware and plan to hold necessary consultations with the U.S. side regarding the raised issues." On the same day, a senior official from the Presidential Office emphasized, "The President is also being directly briefed, and while it is difficult to interpret the situation based on assumptions, this is a challenge that can be sufficiently overcome."
Regarding past instances of U.S. spying on allied countries, the official drew a line by saying, "This situation is different." The official noted, "Given the variable of the Russia-Ukraine war, it cannot be simply compared to past cases," and added, "In fact, intelligence warfare is taking place among countries, so it must be viewed in light of the special circumstances of the war."
However, with the South Korea-U.S. summit just over two weeks away, active response from our government is necessary. A key official from the Presidential Office was reserved, saying, "There will soon be an opportunity to explain our position," but pointed out that the conversation of South Korea’s top diplomatic and security officials was wiretapped and leaked, and that the location of intelligence gathering appears to be within South Korea rather than on U.S. soil. During the 2013 wiretapping allegations reported by the British Guardian regarding the South Korean Embassy in the U.S., the South Korean government requested fact-checking through diplomatic channels, and the U.S. later explained its basic stance on intelligence activities to South Korea with some delay.
There is a considerable possibility that this incident will become a major variable during the upcoming state visit. If both countries do not actively provide explanations, the wiretapping controversy is likely to follow throughout the visit and could be interpreted as a bargaining factor in economic and diplomatic cooperation. The two leaders are expected to address issues such as the Semiconductor Support Act and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) during the summit.
The Presidential Office is expected to monitor domestic public opinion trends for the time being and respond to each issue accordingly. It is clear that political circles, especially the opposition, will continue attacks through expanding the controversy and reinterpretation. Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min criticized the Yoon administration the previous day, calling it "pathetic and utterly servile." He also stated, "President Yoon Suk-yeol and our government must immediately lodge a strong protest with the U.S. government, demand all information regarding the U.S. confidential documents reported by The New York Times (NYT), and obtain an apology and a promise to prevent recurrence."
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