hankyoreh

It was confirmed Tuesday that the U.S. protested South Korea’s decision to inform media outlets of North Korea’s preparations to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) when the type of long range missile has not yet confirmed.

Some observers criticized the South Korean government for using this event to shift attention focused on the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun towards North Korea.

According to an expert on military matters who preferred to remain unnamed, the U.S. issued a strong statement about the fact that the South Korean government disclosed sensitive intelligence information regarding North Korea’s preparations to test-fire a long range missle by referring to it as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) to media outlets. He said, “It can be interpreted that the U.S. is discontent with how South Korea arbitrarily interpreted the satellite picture provided by the U.S. and shared it with the media. He added, ”I am concerned that the Cheong Wa Dae intended to shift the public’s attention away from the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun and towards North Korea.

He added, “If South Korea does the same thing repeatedly, the U.S. will discontinue sharing key intelligence information related to North Korea.”

It has also been confirmed that the U.S. also protested the content of a South Korean media outlet article that reported, “The door to the storage facility for fuel rods in Yongbyon opened several times.”

Kim Yeon-cheol, the head of Hankyoreh Peace Institute says, “It seems that the Cheong Wa Dae intends to pass the responsibility of the current crisis to North Korea.”

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