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Kim Tae-hyo, the first deputy director of the National Security Office, speaks to reporters at Dulles International Airport near Washington on April 11 (local time). (Yonhap)

Referring to evidence that the CIA had spied on high-ranking officials in South Korea’s National Security Office, the office’s first deputy director said Tuesday that Korea “hasn’t found any evidence of ill will from our ally the US.”

Following First Deputy Director Kim Tae-hyo’s remarks the previous day that “a substantial number” of the leaked documents were fabricated, he continues to downplay the scandal through hopeful interpretations of US’ behavior. But now the US Secretary of Defense has acknowledged the severity of the leak by personally specifying the date of the classified documents.

Of the alleged surveillance, Kim told reporters Tuesday that “other parties were heavily involved.” Kim met with the press after arriving in Washington to discuss President Yoon Suk-yeol’s upcoming state visit to the US.

“The US has confirmed the factuality of what I told you yesterday,” Kim said, referring to comments about a substantial number of the documents being fabricated. “As for which documents and how, I think we’ll have to wait a while for that,” Kim added.

As the Yoon administration faces sharp criticism for its milquetoast diplomacy and lax security at the presidential office, Kim is apparently providing cover for the US by describing its surveillance as not being malicious.

The government and the ruling party have added their support. Foreign Minister Park Jin told reporters that “a substantial number of the documents are believed to have been fabricated” following a lecture for lawmakers with the ruling People Power Party at the National Assembly.

Shin Won-sik, a lawmaker for the People Power Party and a former lieutenant general in the army, asserted on CBS radio that “the documents themselves are a complete lie.”

But on the same day, the US government acknowledged that classified documents had indeed been leaked, along with the severity of the leaks.

“The documents that we are aware of are dated the 28th of February and 1st of March,” US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in a press conference. “We take this very seriously and we will continue to investigate and turn over every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it.”

The previous day, Kim had said that South Korea’s minister of defense had spoken on the phone with the US secretary of defense, and that they “were in agreement,” adding, “a substantial number of the leaked documents were fabricated.” Just one day later, there are serious questions about what exactly the two officials were in agreement about.

When asked by a reporter whether all the documents had been fabricated, Kim said, “The US Department of Defense has its position, and there’s a lot of confusion because the investigation is ongoing. In that situation, we can’t be too hasty in our remarks.”

“Even as accusations about surveillance are multiplying, the government is intent on blocking us from raising reasonable concerns. We will hasten to investigate this matter at the level of the National Assembly and also seriously consider legislation that would strengthen security at the presidential office,” Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said in an expanded meeting of party leaders at the National Assembly.

By Bae Ji-hyun, staff reporter; Shin Min-jung, staff reporter

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