Washington Braces For Diplomatic Fallout Amid Fears Of Further Intel Leaks
The leaks present a risk to national security.
Adam Morrow, The Epoch Times
(emphasis ours),
The U.S. federal government is scrambling to contain diplomatic fallout following the leak of scores of classified documents regarding Ukraine and other U.S. ally countries.
The podium in Washington, D.C. on August 16, 2018. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times).
State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a press conference on April 10, that officials from across the agency are working with partners and allies at high levels to resolve this issue.
Patel says that
Washington tries to reassure its allies of "our commitment to safeguarding our intelligence and our fidelity in securing our partnership."
The documents, which are mostly from February or march of this year and were first posted on forums like Discord and 4Chan last month.
Yoon Suk-yeol, the president of South Korea, arrives at the G-20 summit in Nusa Dua on Bali's resort island on November 15, 2022. (Mast Irham/AFP through Getty Images).
They only became newsworthy on April 6 when The New York Times reported, citing "senior Biden Administration officials," their appearance on Twitter.
The Pentagon and Justice Department both are trying to identify the source of leaks
Some of these reports point to U.S. spies, and there are fears that they may damage the relations with allies.
'
It is clear that the leaks are a threat to national security.
Patel said.
Seoul: Leaks are 'utterly false'
Most of the leaked documents, which consist of dozens pages of text and pictures, are related to the ongoing conflict that exists between Russia and Ukraine.
Other documents, however, contain allegedly classified information - which U.S. officials claim may have been doctored - about key U.S. Allies in Asia and Middle East.
A document appears to detail discussions held behind closed doors between South Korean officials about alleged U.S. demands that Seoul contribute more to Ukraine’s war effort.
The content of the document, as well as the fact that the'signals' intelligence (intercepted communication) was obtained, suggests that U.S. spy agencies may have spied the government of South Korea. South Korea is a long-standing ally of America.
(Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images) Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi listening during the Baghdad Conference in the Iraqi Capital on August 28, 2021. (Ludovic Marina/AFP via Getty Images).
In a phone call on April 11, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his South Korean counterpart Lee Jong-sup discussed the matter.
The same day, South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol stated that the allegations that his office was the target of U.S. spies were 'utterly untrue'
Yoon's Office said that any attempt to harm relations between the United States of America and South Korea would be against the 'national interests' of the latter.
Yoon will visit Washington, D.C. later this month to meet with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.
South Korean opposition leaders have, however, criticized the alleged U.S. spying on government officials, calling it a violation of national sovereignty.
Patel, the State Department spokesperson, said that when asked about South Korea directly, the U.S. was committed to South Korea in an 'ironclad' way.
'
It is one of the most important partners we have in the region
He said.
Read more
here...