Response to National Assembly Defense Committee Member Kang Dae-sik's Inquiry
At the National Assembly's National Defense Committee's current affairs questioning on the 8th, lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties intensely grilled the 'Intelligence Command Confidential Information Leak Incident.'
Kang Dae-sik, a member of the People Power Party, expressed concern regarding the case in which a civilian employee of the Intelligence Command leaked military secrets such as personal information of military intelligence agents (black agents), saying, "It is important whether (the information) has fallen into North Korea's hands or not," and added, "There is also suspicion that there is an internal collaborator." Kang asked Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, citing the 2018 Intelligence Command covert team's military secret leak incident that occurred after years of preparation, "Do you think this incident was also secretly premeditated?" Minister Shin replied, "We are investigating with that possibility in mind."
Kim Byung-joo of the Democratic Party argued, "According to reports, there was a similar case last year, but the former brigade commander covered it up," and said, "If it had been investigated then, a major intelligence leak accident would not have happened." Ahn Kyu-baek from the same party criticized the fact that the head of the Defense Intelligence Headquarters, who oversees the military's intelligence operations, also serves as the commander of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Intelligence Headquarters and intelligence units, saying, "Isn't command and supervision neglected because he is wearing three hats like this?"
Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers launched an offensive at the National Defense Committee plenary session on the same day, raising suspicions of external pressure on the investigation related to the death of Cha Sang-byeong.
Bu Seung-chan of the Democratic Party pointed out, "Regarding the Cha Sang-byeong case, an unusual 40 or so phone calls were made in one day on August 2nd last year among the Ministry of National Defense, the Presidential Office, and the Gyeongbuk Police Agency during the process of retrieving investigation materials," and asked, "Has the Presidential Office ever made such all-out calls like this?" Chu Mi-ae from the same party criticized Minister Shin, who denied the external pressure allegations, saying, "Is the minister a servant for the people who desire fairness, common sense, and justice, or an accomplice who protects and conceals the president's illegal acts?"
On the other hand, Lim Jong-deuk of the People Power Party defended the military's response, which was criticized by the opposition for not shooting down the filth balloons dispersed by North Korea, saying, "If the balloons flying into the Presidential Office had been shot down, what would have happened in the densely populated urban area?" and added, "This must have been a policy decision made after sufficient consideration of such factors."
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