World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
South Korea’s unification minister says alliance with US remains sound
South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said the alliance with the United States remains sound, even when the countries’ interests differ.
He said South Korea, like other US allies, must balance its national interests and independence with US requests.
The dispute centers on Chung’s public remarks about a North Korean nuclear facility in Kusong.
The United States restricted the sharing of information about North Korean nuclear facilities over those remarks, which Chung says were not a leak of US intelligence.
He says he mentioned Kusong during a confirmation hearing last year and later explained this to US officials and South Korea’s ambassador in Washington.
Opposition politicians have called for Chung and National Intelligence Service chief Lee Jong-seok to be dismissed, arguing that the United States has lost confidence in them.
Chung rejected that demand and called it political stereotyping.
South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said the alliance with the United States remains sound.
He said allies can share values while their interests sometimes conflict.
Chung said South Korea, like other US allies, seeks to protect its national interests and autonomy.
He rejected opposition claims that the alliance was being weakened or damaged.
Chung also denied leaking US intelligence about North Korean nuclear facilities, calling the allegation a misunderstanding.
- Who
- South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young.
- What
- He said the US-South Korea alliance remains sound, while national interests may sometimes conflict.
- When
- October 12, 2026.
- Where
- A media briefing at the Government Complex Seoul.
- Why
- Chung addressed claims that the alliance was weakening and allegations that he had leaked US information.
Chung Dong-young
Opposition critics
Alliance
Chung Dong-young
Chung said the US-South Korea alliance remains sound and claims that it is being damaged are untrue.
Opposition critics
Opposition critics claimed the alliance was being shaken or damaged.
Dismissal calls
Chung Dong-young
Chung called calls for his and National Intelligence Service Director Lee Jong-seok’s dismissal “ideological attacks.
Opposition critics
Opposition critics called for Chung and Lee to be dismissed, citing alleged US distrust.
The alliance has no problem
Allies share values, but interests can sometimes conflict
We cannot accept 100 percent of what the United States demands
What should be driven out in 2026 is ideological attacks and a biased view of the alliance
Chung said his remarks about a suspected nuclear facility in Kusong had originated at his confirmation hearing.
The United States raised concerns about Chung’s comments on Kusong during a parliamentary committee session, which it treated as an intelligence disclosure.
A land-mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone occurred, which Chung later described as an accident.
Chung said at a media briefing that the US-South Korea alliance remained sound.
- Minister
- Chung Dong-young
- Briefing date
- October 12, 2026
- Briefing location
- Government Complex Seoul
- Alleged disclosure
- Chung’s remarks about a nuclear facility in Kusong, North Korea
- Previous reference to Kusong
- July 2025 confirmation hearing
Sources
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