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'We wanted to defend our honor'
By Jun Ji-hye
NIS Director Nam Jae-joon
By Jun Ji-hye
Nam Jae-joon, head of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), said Tuesday that he decided to disclose records of the 2007 inter-Korean summit between late President Roh Moo-hyun and then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to protect the honor of his agency.
“I decided to reclassify the confidential transcripts as general documents to protect the honor of the NIS against the opposition parties (that have kept arguing that the NIS manipulated and distorted the minutes of two leaders’ dialogue),” Nam was quoted as saying by Rep. Jung Cheong-rae of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP). Jung is a member of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee.
Nam’s decision to disclose the transcripts Monday added fuel to controversy surrounding late Roh’s alleged denial of the legitimacy of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), a de facto border in the West Sea.
During his presence in the committee’s plenary session held for the first time in 96 days after Nam’s confirmation hearing was over in March, Nam made it clear that he does not intend to resign over the disclosure.
The DP earlier demanded that material related to the summit kept in the National Archives of Korea as presidential records be made public based on law and normal procedures to reveal the truth about Roh’s alleged comments.
“The one the NIS has managed is a duplicate of the original version. So, the original documents and recorded tapes in the National Archives should be disclosed to find out the truth, as there is possibility that the spy agency manipulated the copy of the records,” said Rep. Jung.
Under present law, presidential records are kept secret for 15 years and can only be opened to the public upon approval by more than two-thirds of lawmakers or high court’s decision to issue a warrant.
Nam, a former Army chief of staff, said it was his own decision to permit lawmakers of the ruling Saenuri Party to read excerpts of the transcripts on June 20.
The opposition lawmakers have so far claimed Cheong Wa Dae intervened in the revelation to water down controversy surrounding the NIS’s alleged meddling in last year’s presidential election.
“I also read the transcripts for the first time on the day. It took two to three hours to read the full texts,” Nam was quoted as saying.
Regarding the NIS election meddling scandal, Nam said it is inappropriate to answer, stating the trial is underway.
Members of the ruling party supported the NIS head, saying the disclosure was a lawful act, while DP lawmakers lambasted Nam for the disclosure.
Saenuri Party lawmaker Yun Jae-ok said there is no legal problem with the disclosure.
“Nam, as the NIS chief, has a legal authority to handle the transcripts kept in the agency, so he does not need to take legal responsibility for the disclosure. I believe he made a very cautious decision through sufficient discussion with the NIS agents.”
The DP, on the other hand, described the revelation as a “coup” or “rebellion.”
“Nam disturbed the nation’s law and order after his predecessor, Won Sei-hoon, illegally intervened in the presidential election. Nam betrayed his country,” said Rep. Jung.
Rep. Kim Hyun argued Nam is not qualified to head the NIS, calling for his resignation and dissolution of the agency.
“He must have decided to reveal the transcripts of the summit to avoid pressure from opposition’s demand for launching the Assembly investigation into the agency’s election meddling,” she said.
The DP called on not only Nam but also Reps. Suh Sang-kee and Chung Moon-hun of the ruling party, members of the committee, to step down to take the responsibility for the “illegal” disclosure.