World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
South Korean envoy says intelligence cooperation with U.S. has improved
South Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha said Seoul and Washington have made progress in improving intelligence cooperation.
She spoke during a parliamentary audit at South Korea’s embassy in Washington on October 12.
Concerns about friction grew after South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said it was left out of a June meeting involving the U.S. and Japan on North Korean cyber threats.
Local media reports said the exclusion was at Washington’s request.
Tensions have also followed South Korea’s unification minister publicly disclosing a North Korean uranium enrichment facility in March.
Kang said she knew of no U.S. complaints against individual South Korean officials, but acknowledged limits in communication with the White House.
She said a possible North Korea-U.S.
summit is discussed in regular consultations, though there has been no concrete progress.
South Korea’s ambassador to the United States said progress has been made in improving intelligence cooperation between the two countries.
Kang Kyung-wha spoke during a parliamentary audit at the South Korean Embassy in Washington on Oct. 12.
Her comments came amid concerns about friction after South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said it was excluded from a June meeting on North Korean cyber threats.
Kang said there had been consultations about intelligence cooperation problems but no complaints against any individual.
She also acknowledged limitations in communication with the White House.
- Who
- South Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha.
- What
- She said progress had been made in improving intelligence cooperation with the United States.
- When
- Oct. 12, 2026.
- Where
- The South Korean Embassy in Washington.
- Why
- She was responding to questions about bilateral intelligence cooperation amid concerns about friction between the allies.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young publicly disclosed a North Korean uranium enrichment facility in Kusong.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service was excluded from a trilateral meeting with the United States and Japan on North Korean cyber threats.
Kang Kyung-wha said progress had been made in intelligence cooperation during a parliamentary audit in Washington.
- Ambassador
- Kang Kyung-wha
- Audit date
- Oct. 12, 2026
- Meeting topic
- North Korean cyber threats
- Meeting participants
- South Korea, the United States and Japan
- Facility location
- Kusong, North Korea
- U.S. communication
- Kang acknowledged limitations in communication with the White House
What people are saying
progress has been made
There have been various consultations regarding problems in connection with intelligence cooperation, but there have not been any complaints raised against any individual.
I acknowledge that there are limitations in our communication with the White House
Sources
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