Top Stories

South Korea Says Leaked U.S. Document Fake

South Korea’s presidential office said Tuesday that a “significant portion” of information contained in reportedly leaked classified Pentagon documents that detail apparent U.S. spying on Seoul are fake, a stance that the allies’ defense chiefs also agreed on in a phone call.

Seoul’s announcement comes after top secret U.S. Defense Department documents leaked online reportedly revealed American intelligence-gathering efforts on allies, including South Korea.

Advertisement

In a phone call Tuesday, the South Korean and U.S. defense chiefs agreed that “a significant number of the documents in question were fabricated,” the presidential office in Seoul said in a statement.

The statement did not offer specifics on what information in the documents was false, but said Washington and Seoul would work to strengthen trust and cooperation on the matter going forward.

Advertisement

The Pentagon has said it is working to determine the veracity and provenance of the documents, with at least some of them believed to have been altered.

Queried on the matter, the Pentagon said the phone call between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup did take place, but it did not offer further comment as of this story’s publication.

Advertisement

Many of the leaked documents, which were posted recently to social media, largely focused on the war in Ukraine, with one in particular reportedly offering details about concerns inside the administration of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol over an apparent move by Washington to strong-arm Seoul into supplying Kyiv with ammunition — despite a law that bans the sales of arms to countries embroiled in conflict.

While South Korea had reportedly agreed to sell artillery shells to help the U.S. replenish its own dwindling stockpiles, it insisted that their “end user” should be the American military.

Advertisement

Top aides to Yoon, however, were worried that Washington would ultimately divert them to Kyiv, according to one of the secret documents, The New York Times reported.

Advertisement
citynews

Recent Posts

Why Seyi Tinubu Can’t Be Lagos Governor- Igbokwe

A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has said Seyi Tinubu, son…

8 hours ago

Simon Ekpa Not Our Member, Should Not Be Associated With Us- IPOB

IPOB PRESS RELEASE 22/11/2024 SIMON EKPA IS NOT AN IPOB MEMBER AND MUST NOT BE…

11 hours ago

NEWSPAPER HEADLINES FOR FRIDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 2024

NEWSPAPER HEADLINES FOR FRIDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 2024. *PUNCH* Gombe begins N28bn Assembly, high court complexes…

12 hours ago

My husband assaulted me, ruined my career – Olajumoke Onibread

Former bread seller turned model, Olajumoke Orisaguna, popularly known as Olajumoke Onibread, has opened up…

15 hours ago

“I did not punch Akpabio” – Senator Bamidele speaks on alleged fight with Senate President

Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele has denies reports that he was involved in a fight…

15 hours ago

Speaker Obasa Clarifies Negative Perceptions As Sanwo-Olu Presents 2025 Budget

– says lawmakers united to meet yearnings of Lagosians – accuses detractors of peddling news…

15 hours ago