By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
National Intelligence Service (NIS) director Kim Man-bok said the spy agency has mapped out a blueprint in efforts to become one the world's top five spy agencies in 10 years.
In its report to President Roh Moo-hyun who visited the NIS Friday, Kim vowed to secure global intelligence competitiveness and national confidence to attain the goal of ranking among the top five list as a global spy agency.
He compared the position of the NIS with the Central Information Agency (CIA) of the United States, the Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations (MOSSAD) of Israel and the Secret Intelligence Service of Britain.
``We will reward the people's confidence and love by successfully supporting the upcoming inter-Korean summit,'' Kim said.
After Roh praised Kim and other agents for playing a crucial role in releasing 21 of the 23 Koreans kidnapped by the Taliban, Kim said the NIS will continue to do their best to protect people's lives and their security.
Roh complimented the NIS for the internal efforts it is making to renovate itself, saying that it is very desirable that the agency has turned into one supporting the people, from its position as a sincere arm for the military dictatorship.
This is the third time that Roh has visited the NIS, following 2003 and 2005.
The President was accompanied by senior Cheong Wa Dae officials such as Moon Jae-in, the presidential chief of staff, and Baek Jong-chun, chief presidential secretary for unification, foreign and security policy.