The US has imposed partial restrictions on sharing sensitive satellite intelligence with South Korea following a reported dispute over the public disclosure of information related to North Korea’s nuclear facilities, local media reported on Tuesday, citing military officials.
According to a senior official, Washington began limiting access earlier this month to certain intelligence linked to North Korea’s technological capabilities, widely believed to involve aspects of its nuclear programme, according to Yonhap News.
"It's true that the US side has been restricting sharing parts of North Korean intelligence collected through satellites from early this month," a senior military official said. "(The restricted sharing of intelligence) is related to information regarding parts of North Korea's technology."
He gave no further details about the restricted information.
The move comes after South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young last month identified the Kusong region as a site hosting a uranium enrichment facility during a parliamentary session.
Despite the restrictions, officials stressed that core intelligence cooperation between the allies remains intact.
Information sharing on critical security matters, including North Korea’s missile launches and military movements, continues without disruption, ensuring that Seoul’s defence readiness is unaffected.
The disclosure by Chung marked a rare instance of publicly referencing sensitive intelligence, reportedly drawing concern from Washington, which believed the information originated from shared US sources.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry has maintained that the remarks were based on open-source information.
Chung has since expressed regret over the controversy, stating his comments were intended to clarify policy towards Pyongyang rather than reveal classified material.
Chung told lawmakers that North Korea is running another uranium enrichment facility in the northwestern region of Kusong, along with previously reported ones in Yongbyon and Kangson.
