The scandal over the leak of classified documents from the Pentagon caused strong reactions in South Korea, considered a key US ally, after the leak revealed that the CIA spied on Seoul, which was concerned that missiles sold to Washington could end up in Ukraine. thereby violating the country’s policy.

South Korea is aware of media reports about the leak of several classified US military documents and plans to discuss “issues caused by the leak” with the US, a South Korean presidential official said, according to Reuters.

Declassified US military documents dating back several months were recently released on social media, providing a partial picture of the war in Ukraine, three US officials told Reuters on Friday, adding that Russia or pro-Russian elements were likely behind the leak.

However, several US experts and officials believe there is a possibility that the source is someone from the US.

Reuters was unable to verify the authenticity of the documents. The US Department of Justice said it was investigating the leak.

The CIA spied on Seoul

One of the documents obtained by Reuters detailed internal discussions between senior South Korean officials about US pressure on Seoul to help supply weapons to Ukraine and its policy not to do so.

According to a Yonhap news agency report cited by The Guardian, CIA agents were monitoring an internal discussion about concerns that artillery shells that South Korea planned to sell to the US could eventually end up in Ukraine.

The document, which does not appear to be dated, shows that South Korea, one of the US’s most important allies, agreed to sell the missiles to help Washington replenish its stockpile, insisting that the “end user” should or the US military.

South Korea supported international sanctions against Russia and provided non-lethal aid to Kyiv, but did not send weapons.

Despite being a major arms exporter, Seoul maintains a long-standing policy of not selling arms to countries at war, a stance that has led to accusations that the South wants to avoid antagonizing Russia, whose support it needs to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

• New York Times: Newly Released Documents Reveal Scale of US Spying and Russian Military Struggle

Gun sales in Seoul have increased

Despite Seoul’s reluctance to arm Ukraine, Seoul’s arms sales rose 140 percent to a record $17.3 billion last year, according to the Defense Ministry, The Guardian notes.

South Korea is currently the eighth largest arms exporter in the world, but aims to be in the top four by 2027.

A spokesman for South Korea’s president declined to answer reporters’ questions about US spying or confirm any details in the leaked documents.

Asked if South Korea planned to seek an explanation from the United States, the official, who declined to be identified, said the government would also look into cases involving other countries.

South Korea, important contracts with a NATO member country

South Korea signed major contracts to supply hundreds of tanks, planes and other weapons to NATO member Poland after Russia invaded Ukraine.

But President Yoon Suk-yeol said that South Korea’s law, which prohibits the supply of weapons to countries in conflict, makes it difficult to send weapons to Ukraine.

A South Korean official said there was no change in South Korea’s policy.

The opposition demands an investigation

South Korea’s main opposition party has called on the government to review Pentagon documents that contain allegations that the United States tried to spy on top officials in Seoul over arms sales.

“If the report is true, it would be an act that could never be acceptable between allies of 70 years, and would be a violation of sovereignty and a dirty diplomatic game that directly undermines bilateral trust,” Democratic Party leader Park Hong-keun said, referring to to – a link to an article in the New York Times that reported on alleged American espionage.

About 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea as a deterrent to a nuclear-armed North Korea, and US and South Korean forces regularly hold joint military exercises.

Park called on South Korea’s National Assembly to convene a meeting of the foreign affairs, intelligence and defense committees to look into the unverified claims, adding that Washington should issue a “polite apology” if they were found to be true, Yonhap reported.

On the same topic:

• According to the leak of secret American documents, Mossad would encourage anti-government protests in Israel / The Israeli government rejects the information
• Washington Post: Leaked military documents show Wagner Group tried to buy weapons in Turkey
• The New York Times continues a series of revelations: the leak of documents shows that the United States has been massively spying on the Russian military. American secret services are also eavesdropping on important allies
• Russia appears to be behind the leak of Pentagon documents about the war in Ukraine, US officials say
• Ukraine is considering measures to prevent the leakage of military information
• Kyiv’s reaction to the secret documents about the Ukrainian counter-offensive circulated on the Internet

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