Park Jin on US wiretapping suspicion: "Significant documents assessed as fabricated"

Foreign Minister Park Jin stated that the U.S. intelligence agencies' allegations of wiretapping and eavesdropping on South Korea and other allied countries are "evaluated to have a significant number of documents that were fabricated."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

After delivering a lecture at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the morning of the 12th at the People Power Party study group 'National Sympathy,' Minister Park told reporters, "We are communicating closely with the United States. Since the U.S. government is investigating the facts, if the truth is identified, information will be shared between South Korea and the U.S." This aligns with the previous day's statement from the Yongsan Presidential Office, which said, "It cannot be ruled out that certain forces' intentions were involved, and in the U.S., there are also suggestions that some of the leaked materials may have been altered or fabricated." As the White House and the Department of Defense in the U.S. stepped in to manage the wiretapping allegations, the South Korean government appears to be coordinating accordingly.

Regarding the opposition party's attacks on the wiretapping allegations, Minister Park said, "All members will agree that the South Korea-U.S. alliance is important," adding, "Since this is a historic year marking the 70th anniversary, President Yoon Seok-yeol's state visit presents a great opportunity to renew the South Korea-U.S. alliance."

During his lecture titled 'Vision of a Global Hub Nation and Diplomatic Strategy,' Minister Park emphasized the Yoon administration's diplomacy philosophy centered on national interests. He said, "(The government's) national philosophy is freedom and solidarity," adding, "To protect freedom and democracy, people who share the same thoughts must unite for the values we pursue." He further explained, "Only by doing so can we protect liberal democracy and core values, enabling South Korea to leap forward again and create a country where citizens live well together."

He also introduced ChatGPT's response regarding the opportunities and challenges facing diplomacy under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. He said, "I asked ChatGPT to summarize within 1,000 characters, and it gave a very smart answer," mentioning the challenges as ▲ North Korea's security threats and unpredictable actions such as nuclear and missile development ▲ balancing the South Korea-U.S. alliance amid China's rise and expanding influence ▲ historical tensions with Japan, including issues of comfort women, territory, and past history ▲ globalization and economic transformation.

The opportunities included ▲ the South Korea-U.S. alliance as the cornerstone of South Korean diplomacy ▲ the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and ASEAN+3 ▲ Korea's soft power such as K-pop and dramas ▲ climate change responses like renewable energy production.

About 40 ruling party lawmakers, including party leaders such as Secretary-General Lee Cheol-gyu and Policy Committee Chairman Park Dae-chul, gathered at the meeting. Ruling party members dismissed the opposition's attacks on the government's diplomacy as 'rumors.' Chairman Park said, "There is about a year left until the general election. It seems the next year will be a war against false provocations," adding, "In diplomatic matters, national interests must come first, and it should not be viewed through ideology or political strife. Following Fukushima Sho, there is concern that another U.S.-originated rumor might emerge."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

Meanwhile, former National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok, affiliated with the Democratic Party of Korea, also attracted attention by attending the meeting that day. Member Lee Yong, who moderated the session, introduced former Speaker Park by saying, "A special guest has come. He attended because he liked the lecture content." Chairman Park Dae-chul expressed gratitude in his opening remarks, saying, "We appreciate former Speaker Park coming to show that diplomacy is solely about national interests." Former Speaker Park stayed, saying, "I will listen carefully and attentively."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.