Unification Minister Chung Dong-young on Monday rejected claims of growing strains in the South Korea-US alliance, while urging news outlets to exercise caution when reporting on relations with Washington and North Korea.
Speaking at a press conference at the Unification Ministry headquarters in Seoul, Chung pushed back against recent reports suggesting that a series of disputes between Seoul and Washington reflect a deterioration in the alliance.
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with the South Korea-US alliance," Chung said.
Chung said disagreements between allies were natural, noting that other US allies also negotiate with Washington when their national interests diverge.
He also criticized what he described as reporting based on fragmentary facts, saying individual developments could give a distorted picture when removed from their broader context.
His remarks came amid recent media reports suggesting that a visiting US intelligence official had bypassed South Korea's intelligence chief and instead met the presidential national security adviser.
"When I actually checked, they had met," Chung said, calling the report "completely fake news."
Chung also addressed reports that the United States had restricted the sharing of some intelligence on North Korea with Seoul following concerns over his disclosure in March of information related to a North Korean facility. Washington reportedly raised concerns over the disclosure, although neither side has publicly characterized the incident as an intelligence leak.
He further criticized the reported US response, arguing it appeared to stem from a misunderstanding, as he had already publicly referred to North Korea's Kusong area during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly on July 14, 2025, before taking office as unification minister.
"It is a wrong measure," Chung said. "The United States may have missed the July remarks. Had it known about them, would it have acted this way?"
Chung said he had conveyed his explanation to the US side through several channels, including US officials and South Korea's ambassador to Washington.
He also stressed the need for a similar focus on the broader context in assessing controversy surrounding the Sept. 21 North Korean mine explosions in the Demilitarized Zone.
Chung defended his earlier remark during a parliamentary audit last month that the explosions could not yet be definitively characterized as a North Korean "mine attack." He faced criticism after North Korea later cited his comments in rejecting responsibility for the incident.
He also rejected criticism that his ministry was taking an overly conciliatory stance toward Pyongyang.
"The Unification Ministry and I are neither taking a high-handed posture nor a low posture," Chung said. "We are taking the proper posture."
flylikekite@heraldcorp.com
