Seoul: The United States has imposed restrictions on South Korea's access to intelligence concerning North Korea's nuclear facilities. This move comes as a protest against South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's recent disclosure about the uranium enrichment facility located in Kusong, according to sources.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision to restrict intelligence sharing was influenced by Minister Chung's public reference to North Korea's Kusong region. During a parliamentary session last month, Chung identified Kusong as one of the three sites housing uranium enrichment facilities, marking a rare public acknowledgment of such information.
The U.S. has limited the sharing of intelligence collected via satellites, particularly information regarding the nuclear facility in Kusong. This restriction has raised concerns about a potential gap in South Korea's surveillance capabilities against North Korea, although the South Korean military maintains that its readiness remains unaffected.
The U.S. reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over Chung's disclosure, which it believes was based on intelligence previously shared by Washington. However, the unification ministry clarified that Chung's remarks were founded on "open information." Until now, neither Seoul nor Washington had officially recognized Kusong as a site for North Korean nuclear facilities, with only Yongbyon and Kangson being acknowledged.
Speculation about Kusong's involvement with North Korea's nuclear activities has persisted since the mid-2010s. In 2016, a U.S. think tank identified the city as a potential site for a uranium enrichment facility. The U.S. has been vigilant in monitoring North Korean regions suspected of housing nuclear facilities, sharing pertinent information with South Korean intelligence authorities.
South Korean military officials have stated that the restriction from the U.S. does not immediately impact their intelligence gathering capabilities. They pointed to the effective real-time coordination between the allies during North Korea's missile launches in March and April as evidence of continued cooperation.
In response, the South Korean military is exploring the acquisition of its own reconnaissance satellites to enhance its ability to detect North Korea's nuclear and missile activities and monitor strategic targets within the country.