Blue House: "South Korea-U.S. Intelligence Cooperation Somewhat Restricted... Security Talks on 'Hold'"

"Restrictions on intelligence cooperation are real; we are working to resolve them"
Other issues remain entangled despite resolution of investment talks with the U.S.

The Blue House has officially acknowledged that restrictions have emerged in intelligence cooperation between South Korea and the United States. Security negotiations, which had proceeded relatively smoothly after the South Korea-U.S. summit, have also entered a lull as issues including U.S. investment, intelligence cooperation and matters related to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) have become intricately intertwined. The government plans to resolve the restrictions on intelligence cooperation through consultations with the U.S. and return security negotiations to normal.

The phoenix flag flies at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Dec. 29, the day the Cheong Wa Dae era officially resumed after three years and seven months, as President Lee Jaemyung returned to work there. Dec. 29, 2025. Photo by Jo Yongjun.

A senior Blue House official met with reporters at Chunchugwan on the 30th and, responding to concerns that intelligence cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. had recently encountered difficulties, said, "It is true that there are some restrictions on intelligence cooperation between the two countries," adding, "We are working to resolve them." The Blue House has now acknowledged the restrictions, following National Intelligence Service Director Lee Jong-seok's remarks before the National Assembly Intelligence Committee's audit that intelligence cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. was limited.

The intelligence cooperation issue has also been found to affect security negotiations between South Korea and the U.S., including talks on nuclear-powered submarines. Asked why the schedule for negotiations on South Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines with the U.S. had not been finalized, the official explained, "Security negotiations had been progressing relatively smoothly after last year's South Korea-U.S. summit, but they stalled temporarily over investment issues early this year. We made efforts to restore them, and they were back on track in May, but then they stalled again because of investment issues."

The official also said that issues other than investment were affecting the negotiations. "Other issues came into play in the meantime. There is the intelligence issue, and these matters have become complicatedly entangled," the official said. The official added, "Although the investment issue has been resolved, repercussions from other areas are having an impact. We are also trying to work this out." On the status of security negotiations, the official said, "In short, they are on hold. We will try to resolve this. To do so, we need to reach constructive agreements on various issues, and we are working on that."

Asked about the U.S. assessment that South Korea-U.S. relations were facing "turbulence," the official explained that several issues were having a combined effect. "There are issues between South Korea and the U.S., and we are discussing them and working to resolve them and further develop our relationship," the official said. "I think U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel described the situation in her own terms." The official continued, "There have been discussions related to investment, discussions that emerged from those talks, intelligence cooperation and corporate issues. These have all been lumped together. We will work through them one by one."

Meanwhile, the official declined to comment on whether the recent difference between South Korean and U.S. estimates of the number of missiles launched by North Korea was related to difficulties in intelligence cooperation. "We will look into why there was a discrepancy between South Korea and the U.S.," the official said. "The two sides monitor from different locations, so they consult and reconcile their assessments. Perhaps that process has not been fully completed yet."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.