[why&next] Is It Really an Intelligence Agency? The Full Story of the 'Messy Lawsuit Battle' Involving the Commander of the Intelligence Command

Confidential Military Intelligence Leak Leads to Commander Lawsuit
Serious Discipline Lapses in Key Military North Korea Intelligence Agency

Military intelligence agencies are collapsing. An official A belonging to the Intelligence Command leaked personal information of overseas dispatched agents, and due to lawsuits among commanders, even operations that rely on security as their lifeblood were fully exposed.

What is the Intelligence Command?

▲ It is a military unit that collects military intelligence on North Korea and trains operatives for each branch of the military. It corresponds to the Reconnaissance General Bureau of the General Staff Department in North Korea. The commander holds the rank of Major General. The origin of the Republic of Korea Army Intelligence Command (Intelligence Command) dates back to 1946. It was founded based on the intelligence section of the U.S. military government’s Defense Command, which then established an intelligence section within the South Korean Defense Guard Headquarters. In November 1948, it was reorganized into the ‘Intelligence Unit’ of the Army Headquarters Intelligence Bureau, and shortly after the outbreak of the Korean War in July 1950, it transformed into the Operations Section of the Army Headquarters Intelligence Bureau.

The Operations Section was divided into the ‘1st Section,’ responsible for intelligence analysis; the ‘2nd Section,’ responsible for intelligence operations; and the ‘3rd Section,’ responsible for counterintelligence. Later, the 3rd Section, the counterintelligence unit, was separated into the ‘Special Service Unit’ (CIC), while the 1st and 2nd Sections were integrated into the ‘Army Intelligence Command’ (AIC). The Navy also established an intelligence section within its Operations Bureau in 1948, and the Air Force created an intelligence unit in 1945. In September 1990, the intelligence units of the Army, Navy, and Air Force were integrated to form the current command.

Senior Brigade Commander Tells Commander “You Are Not an Expert”

How did the conflict among commanders become public?

▲ The key commanders of the Intelligence Command are Commander A (Major General, Korea Military Academy Class 50) and Brigade Commander B (Brigadier General, KMA Class 47). Commander A has a lower class year than Brigade Commander B but holds a higher rank and is responsible for the Intelligence Command. In May, during an inspection by the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters, allegations of insubordination by Brigade Commander B were detected. It was reported that he insulted the commander to his face during a briefing. Brigade Commander B was immediately suspended from duty. The incident was later revealed through the media. The controversy grew as it coincided with Russian President Putin’s visit to North Korea, where he effectively signed a military treaty with Chairman Kim Jong-un, marking an alliance-level relationship.

When did the commanders’ conflict begin?

▲ According to both sides, the incident started earlier this year. Commander A told Brigade Commander B, “It is problematic to rent out the Intelligence Command’s secret off-site office in Chungjeongno, Seoul, known as An-ga (安家), to a civilian organization.” Commander A explained that he had received a tip from an external source. Brigade Commander B responded, “If you tell me who the informant is, I will explain,” but Commander A refused. Then Brigade Commander B said, “Then please formally raise the issue with the informant.”

Several months later, on May 22, Brigade Commander B reported to Commander A that a civilian organization was using the secret office. Commander A instructed him to report again, stating that support could not be provided without his approval. Nevertheless, Brigade Commander B ordered the establishment of a permanent operations team at the secret office. The two attended external events such as Memorial Day on June 6 without any visible conflict.

Commander Orders Exclusion of Civilian Organization from Using the House, Brigade Commander Resists

The problem occurred the next day. Brigade Commander B reported again and submitted approval documents, which still listed the civilian organization. Commander A ordered the exclusion of the civilian organization. Brigade Commander B resisted, arguing, “Operations cannot proceed because the non-expert commander is interfering.” Commander A threw the approval stamp and said, “I will not accept any reports, so leave.” Subsequently, on the 17th of last month, Brigade Commander B filed a complaint with the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters accusing the commander of assault. He also added charges of abuse of authority, alleging that the commander had subordinates secretly monitor his commuting times. Commander A’s side countered by accusing Brigade Commander B of insulting a superior through verbal abuse and requested an investigation by the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters.

What kind of civilian organization is involved in the controversy?

▲ It is called the Military Intelligence Development Institute. This organization was established in 2010 with approval from the Ministry of National Defense. The first chairman was former Intelligence Headquarters Director Seo Tae-seok. The current second chairman is former Ministry of National Defense Intelligence Headquarters Director Cho Bo-geun. Chairman Cho is a classmate from the Korea Military Academy of Park Ji-man, chairman of the EG Group and younger brother of former President Park Geun-hye. He is also known to be close to Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, another KMA classmate. The institute’s office is located in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, but it is known that Brigade Commander B uses the Intelligence Command’s secret office in Chungjeongno, Seoul, which he manages, at least once a month. Regarding this, the Military Intelligence Development Institute declined to comment, stating, “Please inquire with the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters for detailed information.”

Operations Assigned to a Civilian Organization of Retired Officers

What is the relationship between this organization and the Intelligence Command?

▲ From the sequence of events, it appears that Brigade Commander B, who is senior in class year and an expert in the field, disregarded the superior commander. His refusal to follow the commander’s orders and calling him a “non-expert” can generally be seen as insubordination. However, Brigade Commander B’s side claims the matter is not so simple. The ‘planned project’ mentioned by Brigade Commander B during the argument on June 7 is the basis for this.

According to Brigade Commander B’s complaint, the civilian organization is presumed to have acted as ‘black agents.’ Intelligence agents, often called spies, are divided into ‘white’ agents with official titles such as diplomats and ‘black’ agents who conceal their identities. James Bond from the ‘007 series’ is a black agent belonging to the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6). Black agents’ work is often directly related to national security. Their existence is secret. Civilians can be used as black agents to operate more covertly and to deny government connections if necessary. If their identities are exposed, the host country denies that they are their agents.

Chairman Former Intelligence Headquarters Director Criticized Intelligence Ineptitude While Active

Does the civilian organization have the capability to conduct operations?

▲ Inside and outside the military, there are doubts about using an organization composed of generals already exposed to the public. Former Ministry of National Defense Intelligence Headquarters Director Cho Bo-geun caused a stir by revealing for the first time since the Kim Dae-jung administration the changed forward deployment status of North Korean troops during a parliamentary intelligence committee audit just one month after his appointment. In 2015, Cho confidently stated at a parliamentary audit, “We can detect signs of North Korean nuclear tests at least a month in advance.”

However, North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January the following year, claiming it was a hydrogen bomb test. The military failed to detect the nuclear test movements in advance and only realized it after foreign media reported seismic waves. The incompetence in North Korean intelligence was again criticized. There are also criticisms questioning whether it is possible to conduct North Korean operations after retirement that could not be done while in active service. A military official criticized, “Funds are being provided to an organization of retired generals who worked in intelligence, and current generals are moving there after retirement to secure budgets.”

Brigade Commander Reveals Operational Secrets in Complaint

What secret information was exposed in the complaint?

▲ Brigade Commander B claimed that the off-site office was for supporting operations and that the civilian organization should play a key role in the planned operation called the ‘Gwanggaeto Project.’ He included this information to legally defend himself, explaining the ‘planned project’ and the officetel in excessive detail. Although the complaint does not provide detailed explanations of the Gwanggaeto Project, considering the achievements of King Gwanggaeto, who expanded territory northward on the Korean Peninsula, and the nature of the Intelligence Command’s work, it is widely speculated within military circles that it is a North Korea operation based in China’s northeastern region.

The Intelligence Command is a unit so secretive that even generals are unaware of its main missions. However, this lawsuit revealed the existence of the covert operations team, operation names, and timing that should have been handled with utmost secrecy. This has raised serious concerns.

Investigation Needed Not Only for Assault Charges but Also for Funds Flowing to Civilian Organization

How will the investigation proceed?

▲ Brigade Commander B claimed in his complaint that Commander A threw the approval stamp at him. He protested, “Who throws approval stamps like this these days? Even majors and lieutenant colonels are not treated this way, and I am a general,” and left the office. He described the incident as “the most humiliating insult and the first assault in my 34 years of military service.”

The Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters plans to conduct a first-stage investigation into whether the incident constitutes assault. However, there are calls inside and outside the military to also investigate whether it was appropriate to use a civilian organization for operations, whether there are any connections with the civilian organization, and whether additional funds have been funneled. A senior military official said, “We are investigating the details of the incident, so we will decide after reviewing the investigation results.”