Spy Chief Offers Resignation Over Information Leak

South Korea's spy chief Tuesday offered to resign over the leaking of a conversation he had with his North Korean counterpart during his visit to Pyongyang on the eve of South Korea's presidential election last month.

Kim Man-bok, chief of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), came under fire after the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper last week revealed details of the transcript of his conversation with Kim Yang-gon, director of the United Front Department of the North Korean Workers' Party, in Pyongyang.

The document was reported to the transition committee of President-elect Lee Myung-bak on Jan. 5, but was not supposed to be released. The NIS has conducted an in-house probe to find out who leaked the document.

"I express my intent to resign to assume the responsibility for causing troubles over the newspaper report," the NIS head said during a news conference in Seoul. "I also apologize to the people."

According to the report, Kim made the visit just a day before the presidential election on Dec. 19 and talked with his North Korean counterpart about the prospects for inter-Korean ties and the election.

When public suspicions arose over the timing and purpose of his visit, Kim explained that he chose the date in order not to influence the election.

He also claimed the purpose of the visit was to erect a monument to mark the planting of a pine tree by President Roh Moo-hyun in Pyongyang to celebrate his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

The two leaders agreed to expand economic cooperation and reduce tension during the second inter-Korean summit Oct. 2-4.

During the news conference, Kim said he passed the transcript to some of his acquaintances, including an editor of the newspaper, on an off-the-record basis through an NIS official to clear up suspicions over his Pyongyang visit. "The transcript was reported as a result, which was my fault."

Kim replaced Kim Seung-kyu as the nation's spy chief in November 2006.