Unification minister denies cracks in South Korea-US alliance, urges caution in media coverage

What happened: Unification Minister Chung Dong-young denied strains in the South Korea-US alliance at a Seoul press conference, calling a report that a visiting US intelligence official bypassed South Korea's intelligence chief "completely fake news" and urging media caution. Key numbers: Chung said he publicly referred to North Korea's Kusong Why it matters: Chung said reported US restrictions on some North Korea intelligence sharing were a "wrong measure" stemming from misunderstanding, and said he conveyed his explanation through US officials and South Korea's ambassador to Washington.

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young denied strains in the South Korea-US alliance at a Seoul press conference, calling a report that a visiting US intelligence official bypassed South Korea's intelligence chief "completely fake news" and urging media caution.

Chung said reported US restrictions on some North Korea intelligence sharing were a "wrong measure" stemming from misunderstanding, and said he conveyed his explanation through US officials and South Korea's ambassador to Washington.