NIS on 'Observation Team and Interrogation Group': "Some Necessity Acknowledged... Terms Are Inappropriate"

National Assembly Intelligence Committee's Audit of the National Intelligence Service
"Interrogation May Be Necessary if Voluntary Defector Occurs"

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) stated at the National Assembly Intelligence Committee (Information Committee) audit, "Our government or the NIS has never used the terms 'observer group' or 'interrogation team,'" adding, "In terms of content, we can consider dispatching an organization that performs such functions."

Cho Tae-yong, Director of the National Intelligence Service, is attending the National Assembly Intelligence Committee's audit of the National Intelligence Service held on the 29th at the National Intelligence Service in Naegok-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. From the left, Kim Nam-woo, Chief of Staff of the National Intelligence Service, Hwang Won-jin, Second Deputy Director, Director Cho, and Yoon Oh-jun, Third Deputy Director.

Lee Seong-gwon, a senior member of the Information Committee from the People Power Party, and Park Seon-won from the Democratic Party of Korea, who are the committee's floor leaders, conveyed this during the briefing held at the NIS on the 29th. Regarding sending personnel to Ukraine in response to North Korean troops dispatched to Russia, Lee said, "This is a golden opportunity related to military intelligence," and added, "It is worth considering to protect our national security." On the other hand, Park stated, "(The NIS) has no position regarding the observer group."

The NIS responded to the question, "Is an interrogation team necessary when defectors occur?" by saying, "In principle, it may be necessary." This implies that communication would be needed if North Korean troops are captured or surrender as prisoners of war during wartime. However, there was no explanation regarding the scale or procedures involved.