U.S.-S. Korea Intelligence Tensions Persist, Ambassador Says

South Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha speaks during a parliamentary audit by the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 12 (local time), 2026. The controversy over intelligence-sharing restrictions between South Korea and the United States has emerged as one of the most difficult challenges in bilateral diplomacy. South Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha acknowledged that Washington’s concerns over intelligence cooperation have yet to be adequately addressed, suggesting that resolving the issue could take time. Kang made the remarks during a parliamentary audit by the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 12 (local time). Asked about the most difficult outstanding issue in South Korea-U.S. relations, she said, “Intelligence cooperation is the issue being discussed most.” It was confirmed that at a Sept. 18 meeting between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the U.S. side clearly conveyed its concerns over intelligence cooperation. Asked how Seoul had responded to Rubio’s requests, Kang said, “I do not think the issue has been sufficiently resolved to the degree the U.S. side expects.” At the heart of the controversy is a loss of U.S. confidence in the leadership of South Korea’s intelligence community. Kang acknowledged that Rubio had raised concerns about the erosion of trust in South Korea’s intelligence leadership during his meeting with Cho. However, she said there had been no specific mention of individuals such as Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young or National Intelligence Service Director Lee Jong-seok in connection with the issue. The controversy began in March, when Jeong publicly identified Guseong, in North Pyongan Province, as the location of a North Korean nuclear facility. The United States regarded the disclosure as an intelligence leak and raised concerns with Seoul. Kang said Jeong had asked her to explain the circumstances to the U.S. side, and she relayed the explanation through diplomatic channels. Washington, however, continues to regard Jeong’s remarks as a serious matter. Kang also candidly acknowledged limitations in communication with senior White House officials. “I admit there are limits to our communication with the White House,” she said. “Although I frequently meet with key figures, including those at the National Security Council (NSC), high-level consultations are not taking place to the extent I would like, which is frustrating.” The communication gap has also affected working-level operations. Visas for two or three National Intelligence Service personnel scheduled to be assigned to the South Korean Embassy in Washington have been delayed. Some members of the parliamentary audit delegation, including Ruling Democratic Party Rep. Jeong Cheong-rae, were also unable to enter the United States because of visa issues. Opposition lawmakers cited these developments as signs that South Korea was being sidelined and questioned the government over what they described as cracks in the alliance. As concerns over South Korea-U.S. relations mounted, President Lee Jae-myung called for a pragmatic foreign policy centered on national interests. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting on Oct. 13, Lee said, “We must avoid submissive or overly deferential attitudes in relations between countries.” He added, “As a sovereign and independent nation, the Republic of Korea must always pursue diplomacy that protects its national interests.” Lee acknowledged the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance while emphasizing that differences between countries are inevitable. Regarding North Korea’s nuclear program, Kang described Lee’s reference to a “nuclear freeze” as a pragmatic approach aimed at preventing further advances in North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities. She reaffirmed that the ultimate goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula remains unchanged. Kang characterized the current difficulties as “growing pains” in the process of taking the 70-year alliance to a new level. She said some progress was being made through communication between the two countries’ intelligence agencies and maintained that support for the alliance remained firmly established across the U.S. political establishment.