Politics

South Korea says leaked US intel document ‘untrue’, amid spying allegations

SEOUL, April 11 (Reuters) – South Korea stated on Tuesday that info contained in a purportedly leaked U.S. confidential document that gave the impression to be primarily based on inner discussions amongst prime South Korean safety officers was “untrue” and “altered”.

Several paperwork have been lately posted on social media providing a partial, month-old snapshot of the struggle in Ukraine, sparking a diplomatic row between the U.S. and a few allies.

One of the paperwork gave particulars of inner discussions amongst South Korean officers about U.S. stress on Seoul to assist provide weapons to Ukraine, suggesting the U.S. may have been spying on South Korea, considered one of its most vital allies, and alluring condemnation from the Asian nation’s lawmakers.

The workplace of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stated in a press release that suspicions his workplace in Seoul was monitored are “utterly false” and that any makes an attempt to shake its alliance with the U.S. is an act “compromising national interest”.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin held cellphone talks along with his South Korean counterpart on Tuesday throughout which the 2 sides agreed that a lot of the document on South Korea has been fabricated, Yoon’s workplace stated.

It didn’t elaborate on which a part of the document was unfaithful.

South Korea’s defence ministry stated that through the cellphone dialog that passed off on the request of Austin, the Pentagon chief defined about latest media stories on the leak and vowed to intently talk with South Korea on the problem.

The revelation comes simply weeks earlier than Yoon is scheduled to satisfy with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington, on April 26.

Some lawmakers of South Korea’s essential opposition Democratic Party expressed “strong regret” on Monday over the alleged surveillance, calling it a transparent violation of nationwide sovereignty and a significant safety failure of the Yoon administration.

Kim Tae-hyo, South Korea’s Deputy National Security Adviser, stated the newest controversy won’t have an effect on South Korea’s alliance with the U.S., as he departed for Washington forward of Yoon’s go to.

“The U.S. is the country with the world’s best intelligence capabilities and since (Yoon’s) inauguration we have shared intelligence in almost every sector,” Kim advised reporters.

The document, which doesn’t seem to have a date on it, stated that South Korea had agreed to promote artillery shells to assist the U.S. replenish its stockpiles, insisting that the “end user” must be the U.S. navy. But internally, prime South Korean officers had been frightened that the U.S. would divert them to Ukraine.

South Korea has stated its legislation forbids supplying weapons to nations engaged in battle, which means it will possibly’t ship arms to Ukraine.

Reuters has not independently verified the paperwork’ authenticity. U.S. officers have stated some giving battlefield casualty estimates from Ukraine appeared to have been altered to understate Russian losses.

Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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