(LEAD) S. Korea's top envoy to U.S. acknowledges limitations in high-level communication with White House

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By Chang Dong-woo (ATTN: UPDATES with more details from para 6)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 (Yonhap) -- 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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-U.S. 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-U.S. summit has become a topic of daily consultation between Seoul and Washington in terms of intelligence sharing.

Kang Kyung-wha (R), South Korean ambassador to the U.S., speaks during a parliamentary audit held at the Seoul embassy in Washington on Oct. 12, 2026. (Yonhap)

odissy@yna.co.kr (END)

(LEAD) S. Korea's top envoy to U.S. acknowledges limitations in high-level communication with White House

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作者：张东宇（注意：第6段将更新更多细节）

华盛顿，10 月 12 日（韩联社）——韩国驻美国最高代表周一承认，由于对双边情报合作中明显存在的摩擦表示担忧，韩国与白宫的沟通存在局限性。

康京和大使在华盛顿韩国大使馆接受国会审计时发表了上述言论，回答了有关首尔和华盛顿之间沟通的问题。

康表示：“我承认我们与白宫的沟通存在局限性。”

此前，韩国国家情报院承认其被排除在6月份与日本共同举行的关于朝鲜网络威胁的三方会议之外，引发了外界对韩美双边摩擦的猜测。当地媒体报道称，韩国国家情报院是应华盛顿的要求被排除在外的。

今年3月，韩国统一部长官郑东荣公开披露朝鲜龟城拥有铀浓缩设施，此后韩国和美国在情报领域出现了摩擦迹象。

关于这场争议，大使表示，她知道“两国情报机构已经相互沟通”，并且在改善合作方面“已经取得了进展”。

康还表示，她并不知晓美方对统一部长官或韩国国家情报院院长李钟硕提出任何投诉。

康表示：“我们曾就情报合作中出现的问题进行过多次磋商，但没有对任何个人提出投诉。”

关于再次举行朝美峰会的可能性，大使表示，她知道目前还没有任何实质性进展。“可能性始终存在，但很难用数字（可能性）来衡量。”

据康表示，朝美峰会的可能性已成为首尔和华盛顿在情报共享方面进行日常磋商的话题。

2026年10月12日，韩国驻美国大使康京和（右）在华盛顿首尔大使馆举行的国会审计会议上发表讲话。（韩联社）

odissy@yna.co.kr (完)

（导语）韩国驻美最高代表承认与白宫高层沟通存在局限性