Defense Ministry denies USFK's protest against unification minister's remarks on North Korean nuclear facility
Published: 21 Apr. 2026, 14:58
Updated: 21 Apr. 2026, 19:36
![United States Forces Korea (USFK) Commander General Xavier Brunson speaks during change-of-command ceremony for the United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and USFK at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, on Dec. 20, 2024. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/21/7efa17df-db1f-4dec-9167-903e80444567.jpg)
United States Forces Korea (USFK) Commander General Xavier Brunson speaks during change-of-command ceremony for the United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and USFK at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, on Dec. 20, 2024. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
The Defense Ministry has denied reports that United States Forces Korea Commander (USFK) Gen. Xavier Brunson lodged a protest against the unification minister’s recent remarks that allegedly leaked classified U.S. information.
According to People Power Party Rep. Sung Il-jong on Tuesday, the USFK chief complained to Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back that the unification minister had leaked classified U.S. intelligence about a uranium enrichment facility in the North.
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young has come under fire for referring to the North Korean enrichment facility at a parliamentary session last month. Chung claims he made the remarks based on open source information.
“Minister Chung should step down immediately,” Sung said, arguing that a minister who has caused such a rift in the South Korea-U.S. alliance should not remain in office.
Following the controversy, the United States has reportedly restricted sharing intelligence with South Korea involving North Korea-related technology collected through satellites, military officials said earlier.
Before Chung's remarks to lawmakers, South Korean officials had mentioned only two North Korean uranium enrichment sites — one in Yongbyon, North Pyongan Province, and another in Kangson, Nampo.
The Unification Ministry has claimed Chung's remarks were based on "publicly available information," rejecting claims that they were based on intelligence shared by Washington.
Yonhap
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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