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World

Spy Agency Snub Raises Concerns Over South Korea-U.S. Alliance

South Korea's spy agency was excluded from a June trilateral meeting on North Korean cyber threats, reportedly at Washington's request, as a delayed U.S. visa for an opposition lawmaker adds to concerns over alliance friction.

AI News Feed · 2026-10-09 16:12

The NIS acknowledgment followed a news report saying the agency had been left out at Washington's request. The NIS downplayed the incident, but the exclusion has fueled concerns over bilateral ties amid continued reports of friction between the two partners.

Earlier Friday, South Korea's industry ministry dismissed a local news report alleging that U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had voiced distrust of the NIS during bilateral negotiations on strategic investment projects.

A senior ruling bloc insider acknowledged that "various issues" between the two sides have had an impact on overall bilateral ties. "It is not good for bilateral relations to be shaky like this," the official told Yonhap News Agency by phone. "It is never desirable for problems to arise in the intelligence sector."

The friction in the intelligence sector has followed Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's disclosure in March of a North Korean uranium enrichment facility in Kusong. Chung has said he only shared information already in the public domain, but the move prompted Washington to restrict Seoul's access to some intelligence related to North Korea in apparent protest.

Some have called on the presidential office to dispatch National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac to Washington for talks to defuse the apparent friction. An official from the ruling bloc, however, said there appear to be no such plans for Wi, while noting that the situation calls for exploring various options.

In a related development, the ruling Democratic Party on Friday voiced regret over the delayed issuance of a U.S. visa for former party leader Rep. Jung Chung-rae. DP senior spokesperson Park Sung-joon said Jung's visa application status remains under review without a final decision. Jung had planned to visit the United States for a parliamentary audit of Seoul's diplomatic missions. "(We) hope the diplomatic authorities of South Korea and the United States swiftly and actively resolve the issue," Park said in a written briefing.

The main opposition People Power Party raised suspicions that friction in the alliance may have influenced the apparent delay. "If such warning signs across the diplomatic, intelligence and security sectors continue, the government must thoroughly inspect whether there are problems in communication and trust between South Korea and the U.S.," PPP senior floor spokesperson Choi Eun-seok said.

Jung addressed the issue in a Facebook post, noting that his U.S. visa is under review and asking others to refrain from remarks that could harm the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

A foreign ministry official said it is inappropriate to link Jung's visa issue with broader South Korea-U.S. relations. "South Korean and U.S. authorities are closely communicating and cooperating in various issues, and it is inappropriate to connect an individual visa issue with overall South Korea-U.S. relations," the official said. The official noted that individual visa applications and review results are treated confidentially under U.S. laws and procedures, adding that it is difficult for the ministry to confirm details.

Jung previously failed to obtain a U.S. visa as a lawmaker in 2013. He had been imprisoned for his role in leading the 1989 occupation of the U.S. ambassador's residence in Seoul by student activists.

Editor's Summary The National Intelligence Service acknowledged that it was excluded from a June trilateral meeting on North Korean cyber threats, reportedly at Washington's request, adding to signs of friction in the South Korea-U.S. alliance. The dispute has been accompanied by a delayed U.S. visa for former Democratic Party leader Rep. Jung Chung-rae, which the ruling party regrets and the opposition says may reflect alliance strain. South Korea's foreign ministry says the visa case should not be linked to broader bilateral relations.