(LEAD) Spy agency snub raises U.S. alliance concerns in S. Korea

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(ATTN: UPDATES with more details on ex-DP leader's visa issue in last 5 paras)

SEOUL, Oct. 9 (Yonhap) -- A recent snub of Seoul's spy agency during a trilateral meeting with Washington and Tokyo has heightened concerns over possible friction in the South Korea-U.S. alliance, sources said Friday.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) on Thursday acknowledged that it had been excluded from the June meeting on North Korean cyber threats, after a news report said the agency had been left out at Washington's request.

While the NIS downplayed the incident, the exclusion has fueled concerns over bilateral ties, with continued reports of friction between the two partners.

Earlier in the day, the industry ministry dismissed a local news report alleging U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had voiced distrust of the NIS during bilateral negotiations on strategic investment projects.

This file photo taken Dec. 29, 2025, shows Cheong Wa Dae. (Yonhap)

In light of the reports, a senior ruling bloc insider acknowledged that "various issues" between the two sides have had an impact on overall bilateral ties.

"It is not good for bilateral relations to be shaky like this," the official told Yonhap News Agency by phone. "It is never desirable for problems to arise in the intelligence sector."

The allies have faced signs of friction in the intelligence sector after Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's disclosure of a North Korean uranium enrichment facility in Kusong in March.

While Chung has said he only shared what was already in the public domain, the move prompted Washington to restrict Seoul's access to some intelligence related to North Korea in apparent protest over the disclosure.

National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Lee Jong-seok leaves the National Assembly in Seoul after attending a plenary session of the parliamentary intelligence committee on Sept. 30, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

Some have called on the presidential office to dispatch National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac to Washington for talks to defuse the apparent friction.

An official from the ruling bloc, however, said there appear to be no such plans for Wi, while noting that the situation calls for exploring various options.

Related to the apparent strain, the ruling Democratic Party (DP) on Friday voiced regret over delayed issuance of a U.S. visa for former party leader Rep. Jung Chung-rae.

DP senior spokesperson Park Sung-joon said Jung's visa application status remains under review without a final decision. Chung had planned to visit the United States for a parliamentary audit of Seoul's diplomatic missions.

"(We) hope the diplomatic authorities of South Korea and the United States swiftly and actively resolve the issue," Park said in a written briefing.

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) raised suspicions of friction in the alliance may have influenced the apparent delayed proceedings.

"If such warning signs across the diplomatic, intelligence and security sectors continue, the government must thoroughly inspect whether there are problems in communication and trust between South Korea and the U.S.," Choi Eun-seok, the PPP's senior floor spokesperson, said.

Jung addressed the issue in a Facebook post, noting that his U.S. visa is under review and asking others to refrain from remarks that could harm the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

A foreign ministry official said it is inappropriate to link Jung's visa issue with broader South Korea-U.S. relations.

"South Korean and U.S. authorities are closely communicating and cooperating in various issues, and it is inappropriate to connect an individual visa issue with overall South Korea-U.S. relations," the insider said.

The official noted that individual visa applications and review results are treated confidentially under U.S. laws and procedures, adding that it is difficult for the ministry to confirm details.

Jung previously failed to obtain a U.S. visa as a lawmaker in 2013. He had been imprisoned for his role in leading the 1989 occupation of the U.S. ambassador's residence in Seoul by student activists.

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr (END)

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(LEAD) Spy agency snub raises U.S. alliance concerns in S. Korea

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

（注意：最后5段将更新更多关于前民主党领导人签证问题的细节）

首尔，10月9日（韩联社）——消息人士周五表示，首尔情报机构最近在与华盛顿和东京举行的三方会议上遭到冷落，加剧了人们对韩美同盟可能出现摩擦的担忧。

韩国国家情报院（NIS）周四承认，该机构被排除在6月份关于朝鲜网络威胁的会议之外。此前有新闻报道称，该机构是应华盛顿的要求被排除在外的。

尽管尼日利亚移民局淡化了这一事件，但此次驱逐事件加剧了人们对双边关系的担忧，不断有报道称两国之间存在摩擦。

当天早些时候，工业部驳斥了当地新闻报道，该报道声称美国商务部长霍华德·卢特尼克在双边战略投资项目谈判中对北约表示不信任。

这张摄于2025年12月29日的资料照片显示的是青瓦台。（韩联社）

鉴于这些报道，一位执政联盟内部高级人士承认，双方之间的“各种问题”已经对双边关系的整体发展产生了影响。

这位官员通过电话告诉韩联社：“双边关系如此不稳定对双方都不利。情报领域出现问题绝非好事。”

今年3月，统一部长官郑东荣披露了朝鲜在龟城拥有铀浓缩设施，此后，美韩盟友在情报领域出现了摩擦迹象。

尽管郑义宣表示他只是分享了已经公开的信息，但此举促使华盛顿限制首尔获取一些与朝鲜有关的情报，显然是为了抗议此次泄密事件。

2026年9月30日，韩国国家情报院院长李钟硕在首尔出席国会情报委员会全体会议后离开国会。（联营照片）（韩联社）

有人呼吁总统府派遣国家安全顾问魏松乐前往华盛顿进行会谈，以缓和明显的摩擦。

然而，执政联盟的一位官员表示，目前似乎没有针对魏的此类计划，但他同时指出，这种情况需要探索各种选择。

与此明显紧张局势有关，执政的共同民主党（DP）周五对前党魁郑忠来议员的美国签证迟迟未能发放表示遗憾。

民主党高级发言人朴成俊表示，郑秀妍的签证申请状态仍在审核中，尚未有最终决定。郑秀妍原计划访问美国，配合国会对首尔驻美外交机构的审计。

朴槿惠在一份书面简报中表示：“我们希望韩国和美国的外交当局迅速积极地解决这个问题。”

主要反对党人民力量党（PPP）怀疑联盟内部的摩擦可能影响了明显延迟的进程。

“如果外交、情报和安全领域持续出现此类警告信号，政府必须彻底调查韩国和美国之间是否存在沟通和信任问题，”人民进步党高级发言人崔银锡表示。

郑俊英在脸书上发帖回应了此事，指出他的美国签证正在接受审查，并要求其他人不要发表可能损害韩美同盟的言论。

外交部官员表示，将郑某的签证问题与更广泛的韩美关系联系起来是不恰当的。

“韩国和美国当局在各种问题上密切沟通与合作，将个人签证问题与韩美整体关系联系起来是不合适的，”知情人士表示。

该官员指出，根据美国法律和程序，个人签证申请和审查结果均属保密处理，并补充说，外交部很难确认细节。

郑某曾在 2013 年以国会议员身份申请美国签证失败。他曾因领导 1989 年学生运动人士占领美国驻首尔大使官邸而被监禁。

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr (完)

工业部否认了有关卢特尼克对间谍机构不满的报道

韩国国土交通省（NIS）被排除在6月与美国、日本就朝鲜网络威胁举行的会议之外

据消息人士透露，美国限制与韩国就朝鲜核设施的情报共享。

（导语）驻韩美军司令就统一部长泄露美国情报一事向议员提出抗议

（导语）韩国间谍机构遭冷落引发美国对韩美同盟关系的担忧