National Intelligence Service (NIS): Reports that U.S. refused visit to ‘North Korea surveillance agency’ are false; legal action under consideration

[Financial News] The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said on the 8th that reports claiming the United States had refused a visit by NIS Director Lee Jong-seok to a “North Korea surveillance agency” were false, adding that it would “consider all necessary measures, including legal action, and respond forcefully.”
In a statement on the Chosun Ilbo report, distributed that day, the NIS called the report “malicious false and distorted reporting” and made the remarks above.
Earlier, some media outlets, citing sources in Washington, reported that Lee had sought to visit the United States last March, but the trip fell through after visits to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Defense, and meetings with the heads of U.S. intelligence agencies did not materialize. The NGA is an intelligence agency that analyzes satellite and drone imagery, among other things, and is reportedly monitoring developments involving key North Korean figures and nuclear and missile facilities.
Some reports also said that several NIS agents involved in responding to the Coupang personal information leak incident had been placed on a list of people subject to U.S. entry restrictions.
In response, the NIS explained, “With the outbreak of the war in the Middle East last March, the NIS director was focused on response efforts, including safeguarding national security and national interests and protecting Korean nationals overseas, and was in no position to travel abroad at all,” adding, “There was no plan whatsoever to visit the U.S. NGA.”
Regarding the reports about Coupang, it also said, “The claim that ‘NIS agents who investigated Coupang were placed on an entry-restriction list’ is also entirely untrue.”
It added, “We express strong regret over reports that, with claims entirely contrary to the facts, undermine and impede the work of intelligence agencies dedicated to safeguarding national security and national interests.”
The NIS also reiterated its position that exchanges and cooperation between intelligence agencies are based on confidentiality and secrecy. It said this principle is a confidential agreement between intelligence agencies, adding, “If this principle is violated, trust in intelligence agencies will plummet.”
It continued, “We express serious concern that irresponsible efforts to undermine the NIS are continuing,” and said, “With reports mixing falsehoods and distortions being published about South Korea-U.S. intelligence cooperation, we cannot help but be concerned about damage to the South Korea-U.S. alliance and losses to the national interest.”
The NIS added, “If there are any actions or policies we are getting wrong, we will humbly accept any criticism,” but asked that “there be no further false and distorted reporting, as intelligence cooperation between countries is a highly sensitive security matter and it is difficult to provide specific explanations beyond saying, ‘That is not true.’”
[email protected] Seong Seok-woo Reporter