Firms tied to US military, intelligence hiring people in Seoul
By Yi Whan-woo
At least two private American companies working for the U.S. military and intelligence have begun recruiting staff in South Korea, fueling speculation that Washington is possibly preparing for military options against North Korea.
Booz Allen Hamilton, a Virginia-headquartered consulting firm, offered five job opportunities in Seoul Sept. 15.
The five jobs are human intelligence (HUMINT) and counterintelligence (CI) reports requirements officer, counter-improvised explosive devices and counter-unmanned aircraft system training analyst, source operations manager, signal intelligence analyst, and HUMINT and CI target analyst.
Also headquartered in Virginia, Northrop Grumman, a defense company, also made several job postings for the U.S. Forces Korea between Sept. 6, three days after North Korea's sixth nuclear test, and Sept. 15.
The jobs include technical professionals and systems administrator.
In particular, the recruitment of technical professionals is being made "in support of a contingent Department of Defense (DoD) contract solicitation," according to Northrop Grumman.
The two companies did not give detailed descriptions for these jobs.
But a security analyst speculated that the recruitment appears to be part of Washington's steps to execute military operations independently without Seoul if Pyongyang continues its provocations.
"The recruitment suggests that the U.S. is making considerable preparations to strike North Korea if necessary," said Shin In-kyun, the president of the Korea Defense Network.
"To carry out an independent operation, the U.S. will need to collect more intelligence on North Korea separate from what has already been gathered by the South. And this suggests why there are advertisements for a HUMINT officer as well as technical professionals."
A different expert echoed a similar view, saying, "The recruitment can be a sign of preparation for military action in the long term if the U.S. does not plan to use its military option right way."
On its website, Booz Allen Hamilton said its businesses range from defense to health, energy and international development.
But some military sources said it mainly works with the U.S. military and intelligence agencies such as the National Security Agency (NSA) and that over three-quarters of its profits come from intelligence.
The company was dubbed as "a shadow NSA" by The Nation and "the world's most profitable spy organization" by Bloomberg.
Edward Snowden, the famous leaker of NSA documents, worked for the firm.
Northrop Grumman is a global aerospace and defense technology company, and also one of the world's largest defense contractors.
By Yi Whan-woo
At least two private American companies working for the U.S. military and intelligence have begun recruiting staff in South Korea, fueling speculation that Washington is possibly preparing for military options against North Korea.
Booz Allen Hamilton, a Virginia-headquartered consulting firm, offered five job opportunities in Seoul Sept. 15.
The five jobs are human intelligence (HUMINT) and counterintelligence (CI) reports requirements officer, counter-improvised explosive devices and counter-unmanned aircraft system training analyst, source operations manager, signal intelligence analyst, and HUMINT and CI target analyst.
Also headquartered in Virginia, Northrop Grumman, a defense company, also made several job postings for the U.S. Forces Korea between Sept. 6, three days after North Korea's sixth nuclear test, and Sept. 15.
The jobs include technical professionals and systems administrator.
In particular, the recruitment of technical professionals is being made "in support of a contingent Department of Defense (DoD) contract solicitation," according to Northrop Grumman.
The two companies did not give detailed descriptions for these jobs.
But a security analyst speculated that the recruitment appears to be part of Washington's steps to execute military operations independently without Seoul if Pyongyang continues its provocations.
"The recruitment suggests that the U.S. is making considerable preparations to strike North Korea if necessary," said Shin In-kyun, the president of the Korea Defense Network.
"To carry out an independent operation, the U.S. will need to collect more intelligence on North Korea separate from what has already been gathered by the South. And this suggests why there are advertisements for a HUMINT officer as well as technical professionals."
A different expert echoed a similar view, saying, "The recruitment can be a sign of preparation for military action in the long term if the U.S. does not plan to use its military option right way."
On its website, Booz Allen Hamilton said its businesses range from defense to health, energy and international development.
But some military sources said it mainly works with the U.S. military and intelligence agencies such as the National Security Agency (NSA) and that over three-quarters of its profits come from intelligence.
The company was dubbed as "a shadow NSA" by The Nation and "the world's most profitable spy organization" by Bloomberg.
Edward Snowden, the famous leaker of NSA documents, worked for the firm.
Northrop Grumman is a global aerospace and defense technology company, and also one of the world's largest defense contractors.
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