A senior South Korean diplomat mentioned that efforts are being made by Seoul and Washington towards “normalisation” amidst reports of the US partially limiting intelligence sharing on North Korea due to concerns of a classified information leak. Vice Foreign Minister Jeong Yeon-doo made these comments following a meeting with US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker at the State Department in Washington.
When questioned about progress towards “normalisation,” Jeong stated that both sides are actively working towards it. Addressing potential misunderstandings between Seoul and Washington, Jeong mentioned that discussions have taken place and further developments are awaited. Reports indicate that the US restricted South Korea’s access to satellite intelligence on North Korea after a South Korean official referred to a specific area in North Korea hosting uranium enrichment facilities.
Seoul maintains that the reference was based on publicly available information, while the US views it as a breach of confidential data. Given the expertise of both diplomats in North Korean affairs, detailed discussions on the issue were anticipated. Jeong’s visit to the US was in preparation for a meeting of states parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons at the UN headquarters in New York. The US government expects its partners to protect sensitive information shared through private channels, as stated by a senior Trump administration official.
South Korea’s National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac mentioned that Seoul and Washington have been engaged in discussions regarding the intelligence sharing matter. When asked about the alleged restrictions on intelligence sharing, Wi stated that confirming or denying such matters related to intelligence exchange between the allies is challenging.
