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President Yoon Suk-yeol of South Korea shakes hands with NBC News anchor Lester Holt at the Blair House in Washington on April 24 following an interview. (courtesy of the presidential office)

Currently on a state visit to the US, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol seems unperturbed by evidence that the CIA is spying on senior officials at Korea’s National Security Office, remarking that he believes this matter “is no reason to shake the ironclad trust that supports the US-South Korea alliance.”

Yoon also commented that his own “audacious initiative,” which would provide North Korea with economic aid if it took part in denuclearization talks, is “unrealistic” for the time being.

Yoon told US broadcaster NBC in an interview on Tuesday that the alliance won’t be rattled “because it is based on shared values like freedom.”

“I also receive reports that many of the leaked documents aren’t consistent with the facts, and I understand the investigation is being conducted by US government officials. Our security officials are closely consulting with their American counterparts about this,” he said.

When NBC journalist Lester Holt asked Yoon if “friends spy on friends,” Yoon responded, “Generally speaking, in the real world I don’t think this is something that is prohibited in state affairs.” After a pause, Yoon said, “When you have that trust, you don’t get shaken.”

Yoon’s remarks indicate that he shares the view of NSO First Deputy Director Kim Tae-hyo, who said that Korea “hasn’t found any evidence of ill will from the US” when it comes to the spying allegation. With these remarks, Yoon appears to be reiterating that he doesn’t intend to ask the US government for an explanation or apology for the evidence of spying.

Yoon downplayed the allegations of spying by emphasizing a “values alliance.” While Yoon said that many of the leaked documents “aren’t consistent with the facts,” the Pentagon’s remark that it’s taking the matter seriously suggests that most of the documents were factual.

Yoon adopted a very pessimistic stance on the possibility of inter-Korean negotiations or dialogue. While referring to his “audacious initiative,” which had offered North Korea economic incentives for taking part in denuclearization talks, Yoon said it would be “unrealistic” to expect that inter-Korean negotiations of that sort will soon be held.

“In the past, when the threat was far away, we might have had some time, but now the threat is right in front of the door,” the president said. “The important thing is that we have to make North Korea never dare to resort to its nuclear weapons.”

Yoon said during an interview with Reuters on April 19 that he wouldn’t hold an inter-Korean summit that was “just for show.”

Yoon left open the possibility of providing military aid to Ukraine.

“Therefore, if the time comes when we must also supply some lethal weapons to Ukraine when the situation on the battlefront changes, there won’t be a situation of South Korea turning away from the joint effort of the international community,” Yoon said, adding that Korea is “closely monitoring and considering the situation.”

When asked if he is “feeling pressure from the White House” about providing military aid to Ukraine, Yoon said that he is not.

In regard to Taiwan, Yoon reiterated a cautionary statement he made to China in the Reuters interview.

“We believe that peace and stability around the Taiwan Strait are really important, and we cannot agree to any attempts to change the status quo by force,” South Korea’s president said.

By Kim Mi-na, staff reporter

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