hankyoreh

Oct. 8. (photo pool)

By Song Chae Kyung-hwa, staff reporter

National Intelligence Service (NIS) Nam Jae-joon shared a considerable amount of sensitive information related to developments in North Korea before the National Assembly’s intelligence committee on Oct. 8.

Some of the information that he revealed did not have clear evidence to support it, and other parts of what he said was immediately refuted by the Ministry of National Defense.

This led to allegations that the NIS was intentionally using unconfirmed intelligence as a “sales pitch” to show off the organization’s intel-gathering ability and to reinforce wariness about North Korea.

Nam also discussed the status of the investigation into Unified Progressive Party lawmaker Lee Seok-ki in detail, but most of what he said had already been reported in the media.

After the committee meeting adjourned, a press briefing was held by Cho Won-jin, Saenuri Party (NFP) lawmaker and member of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee.

“North Korea is hoping to use an unconditional return to the six-party talks to seize the initiative in sanctions against the North, policy cooperation between South Korea, the US, and Japan, and the political situation on the Korean peninsula,” Cho reported Nam as having told the committee.

“North Korea recently reactivated the 5MW nuclear reactor at Yongbyon in order to strengthen its nuclear ability by producing plutonium and highly enriched uranium,” Cho also said. “At the same time, it continues work to secure means of nuclear development. This includes conducting engine tests on long-range missiles at the missile launch pad at the village of Tongchang.”

But Defense Ministry spokesperson Kim Min-seok promptly disputed these claims. “Nothing has been confirmed regarding the Yongbyon reactor or the missiles at Tongchang village,” Kim said.

Essentially, Nam reported unconfirmed and unverified intelligence to the National Assembly.

In addition to this, Nam also provided a detailed report of negative assessments of the leadership of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inside the North and recent rumours about Kim’s wife, Ri Sol-ju.

“We do not know the circumstances of Ri Sol-ju’s connection with the members of the Unhasu Orchestra, but we do know that those members were executed,” Cho quoted Nam as saying.

This suggests that, while overseas media recently reported that members of the orchestra were executed by firing squad on charges of having shot a pornographic video, it is unclear whether their execution was connected with stories about a sex scandal.

“Kim Jong-un is obsessed with projects that imitate foreign countries. He is working on a European-style theme park with grassy lawns based on his experience in Switzerland,” Cho also reported Nam as saying.

“Kim is squandering the state budget on projects that he is personally interested in. He has spent a total of 300 million dollars on building sports and recreational facilities for the privileged classes. There is the Mirim equestrian club near Pyongyang, a water park in Munsu, and the ski resort at Masik Pass. That is enough money to buy 800,000 tons of food, which could feed the entire population of North Korea for 2-3 months.”

Nam’s report also addressed discontent about Kim inside North Korea.

According to Nam, Kim is strengthening his system of control over the country, and to do this he is trying to develop a personality cult for himself by creating a cemetery for his mother, Ko Yong-hui, and forcing North Koreans to pay their respects there.

Nam also reported that criticism of Kim’s leadership is spreading among North Korean leaders.

In addition, he referred to Kim’s order in April that North Koreans assigned overseas can only keep one of their children with them and must send the rest back to North Korea. Even though Kim is retracting this order, Nam said, he is alienating much of the public in the process.

During the briefing, Cho said that “Kim ordered [the military] to be prepared for orders to launch a full-scale attack. When the order for a full-scale attack is given, Kim said, all comrades at each of their posts should be as one in the speed battle and, through strong collective force, should act for each other in a single moment with truly inexhaustible creative thinking.”

This resulted in a short flurry of media attention, with some TV stations and wire services releasing short reports claiming that Kim Jong-un had ordered the military to stand by for a full-scale attack.

But Jeong Cheong-rae, Democratic Party lawmaker on the Intelligence Committee, held a press briefing to correct the report. “The remarks about Kim Jong-un’s full-scale attack orders were made during Lee Seok-ki’s meeting in Seoul’s Hapjeong neighborhood,” Jeong said. “Cho incorrectly made it sound as if Kim Jong-un had said this himself.”

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]