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| Kim Kyou-hyun, nominee for National Intelligence Service director, looks out during his National Assembly Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing on Wednesday. Yonhap |
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Kim Kyou-hyun, the nominee for National Intelligence Service (NIS) director, said he would cooperate with the Five Eyes, an intelligence-sharing alliance among five English-speaking countries, namely the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Speaking at his National Assembly Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Kim said that if the alliance were to accept South Korea's proposal, the spy agency would actively cooperate on sharing intelligence with the five countries.
"It is of course necessary for South Korea to join the Five Eyes, if allowed, because there are many things that one country alone cannot respond to, such as climate change, terrorism and cybersecurity, as well as military threats to security in the international community," he said during his National Assembly Intelligence Committee personnel hearing held the same day.
Rep. Cho Tae-yong of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) welcomed Kim's remarks on the Five Eyes, saying cooperation with the intelligence-sharing alliance will help the NIS strengthen its capabilities. "I strongly encourage you to go ahead with your plan," the lawmaker said.
Regarding the need for the establishment of a tripartite intelligence-sharing body among South Korea, the United States and Japan, the NIS nominee said he would pursue it, revealing his view that North Korea appears unwilling to denuclearize on its own and thus that South Korea should use a two-track approach of dialogue and sanctions towards the country.
His remarks came months after the U.S. House Armed Services Committee members reportedly mulled the expansion of the Five Eyes members to include South Korea, India, Japan and Germany. Ruben Allego, a member of the committee, was quoted by news website Defense One that "Five Eyes intelligence-sharing pact is a World War II relic that needs updating to better keep tabs on China."
Kim stressed that the NIS has already severed its links with domestic politics. "President Yoon told me the other day that if I become the head of the NIS, I should never ever think of being involved in domestic politics," he said. "The NIS is not supposed to collect information on domestic politics and is strictly complying with this order. It will focus on maintaining neutrality and will not yield to political demands."
In a closed-door meeting held Thursday, members of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee agreed to give President Yoon Suk-yeol the green light to appoint his pick for the NIS director. Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the PPP told reporters that he believes President Yoon will appoint Kim to lead the spy agency as soon as he can, considering the grave security threats posed by North Korea.
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