‘Significant’ number of leaked classified US intelligence documents are forgeries, Seoul says
A “significant number” classified US intelligence documents on South Korea, which have leaked in recent weeks, among others, have been “falsified”the South Korean presidency said in a statement on Tuesday, following a phone call between the American and South Korean defense ministers.
This leak, which according to the Pentagon poses a risk ” very serious “ for the national security of the United States, caused diplomatic embarrassment. Some of the leaked documents do indeed appear to explain that Washington collects intelligence on its allies, such as Israel and South Korea.
According to press reports, several documents point to concerns among senior South Korean national security officials, who fear that weapons and ammunition produced in their country end up being used in Ukraine. Such an eventuality would constitute a violation of Seoul’s policy of not selling any weapons to countries at war.
The revelation of alleged talks about Ukraine between senior national security officials has sparked criticism in South Korea over the vulnerability of communications within the country’s key administrations, such as the presidency. The office of South Korean President Yoon Seok-youl, however, defended itself on Tuesday, saying it had a “outstanding security” and that the wiretapping charges were “senseless lies”.