'Former Sankei Bureau Chief Who Raised Suspicions About Park Geun-hye's Whereabouts Appointed as Japan Cabinet Intelligence Analyst'

Former President Park Geun-hye

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Tatsuya Kato, former Seoul bureau chief of Sankei Shimbun who was tried in South Korea after raising suspicions about the whereabouts of then-President Park Geun-hye on the day the Sewol ferry sank, has been appointed as a Cabinet Intelligence Analyst in the Japanese government.

According to local media on the 1st, the Japanese government announced a Cabinet Secretariat personnel appointment naming former bureau chief Kato as Cabinet Councillor and Cabinet Intelligence Analyst.

The Cabinet Intelligence Analyst is a position within the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office responsible for government collection, analysis, investigation of important cabinet policies, and protection of certain secrets. The Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office is similar to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service. In the past, Noriyuki Suzuki, who served as a director of the North Korea-specialized media Radio Press, was appointed to the same position.

Kato resigned from Sankei Shimbun at the end of August last year and moved to a Japanese research institute with a pro-government inclination, explaining to acquaintances at the time that he planned to study issues related to Korea, Korea-Japan relations, and the Korean Peninsula. Considering his background, it is highly likely that he will be involved in intelligence work related to South Korea or North Korea.

Kato was indicted in 2014 on charges of defaming former President Park, but the Seoul Central District Court ruled, "Although the rumors covered in the article were false, there was no intent to defame, so he was acquitted."

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