South Korea and U.S. in Talks Over Indictment of Korean American North Korea Expert

SEOUL — South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed ongoing discussions with U.S. intelligence authorities following the indictment of Sue Mi Terry, a prominent Korean American expert on North Korea, according to recent news reports.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the communication between South Korean and U.S. intelligence is focused on addressing the allegations reported by The New York Times, which involve Terry acting as an agent for the South Korean government. The charges claim that Terry received lavish gifts, including expensive dinners and designer handbags, in exchange for promoting South Korean policy interests. Terry, a former analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency and currently with the Council on Foreign Relations, is accused under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), distinguishing the case from espionage activities.

The report outlines that Terry's activities as a foreign agent started in 2013, a period that commenced several years after her tenure at the CIA. Allegedly, she was recruited by individuals posing as South Korean diplomats who facilitated her involvement in promoting South Korea's strategic interests through media appearances and article publications.