South Korea's top envoy to the United States acknowledged Monday that there have been limitations in communication with the White House, amid concerns over apparent friction in bilateral intelligence cooperation.
Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha made the remarks during a parliamentary audit at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, responding to questions about communication between Seoul and Washington.
"I acknowledge that there are limitations in our communication with the White House," Kang said.
The remarks follow growing speculation over bilateral friction after South Korea's National Intelligence Service acknowledged it was excluded from a June trilateral meeting, also involving Japan, on North Korean cyber threats. Local media reports indicated the agency was left out at Washington's request.
South Korea and the US have faced signs of friction in the intelligence field after Seoul Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's public disclosure of a North Korean uranium enrichment facility in Kusong, North Korea, in March.
Regarding the controversy, the ambassador said she is aware that "intelligence agencies of the two countries have communicated with each other" and that "progress has been made" in terms of improving cooperation.
Kang also said she is unaware of any complaints raised by the US side against the unification minister or South Korea's National Intelligence Service Director Lee Jong-seok.
"There have been various consultations regarding problems in connection with intelligence cooperation, but there have not been any complaints raised against any individual," Kang said.
Regarding the possibility of another North Korea-US summit, the ambassador said she is aware that there has not been any concrete progress. "There is always the possibility, but it is hard to speak (of) in terms of numbers (likelihood)."
According to Kang, the subject of a possible North Korea-US summit has become a topic of daily consultation between Seoul and Washington in terms of intelligence sharing. (Yonhap)