Top diplomat raises issue with US spying allegations
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Janet Napolitano, U.S. secretary of homeland security, enters the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in Seoul to hold meeting with Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook, Friday. / Yonhap
By Chung Min-uck
Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se raised allegations that the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) bugged the South Korean embassy in Washington, during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Friday.
“Despite the fact that the NSA is not affiliated with the Department of Homeland Security, but with Defense Department, the issue will be discussed in general from the perspective of cyber security,” said a foreign ministry official before the meeting was held later in the evening. It was the first time for the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary to visit South Korea, according to the Foreign Ministry.
The homeland department deals with wide-range of issues from counter-terrorism, cyber security to natural disasters.
The Foreign Ministry requested verification from the U.S. government twice since the matter surfaced last week. The U.S. side has yet to inform the South Korean government on the results of the investigation into the allegations, said the Foreign Ministry.
The ministry recently came under fire for its weak response to the scandal.
Based upon documents leaked by former NSA contractor-turned-whistle blower Edward Snowden, foreign media reported that the NSA eavesdropped on South Korea’s embassy in U.S., along with 36 other missions including its allies in the European Union and Japan.
The E.U., France, Germany and Japan voiced anger against the U.S. government, whereas, South Korea’s initial response regarding the issue was that the claims need to be verified first before asking for an apology from the United States or taking countermeasures.
Earlier, officials at the South Korean embassy in the U.S. were also quoted as saying that they “have no knowledge” about the NSA scandal.
In the face of strong criticism by its allies, U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday that there has to be a distinction between normal intelligence-gathering and the specific anti-terrorism programs, adding that he will provide all information to its concerned allies after looking into the allegations.
Secretary Napolitano, who arrived in Seoul on Thursday after attending the 4th Annual International Conference on Security Matters hosted by Russia in Vladivostok, will leave for the U.S. today.
During her three-day visit to Seoul, besides Yun, Napolitano met with other high-ranking officials here including Deputy Prime Minister Hyun Oh-seok, Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook and National Police Agency chief Lee Sung-han. She also delivered a speech on security matters in a meeting organized by American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM Korea) on Friday.