NIS Director No Longer Seen in Official Occasions

It has been confirmed yesterday that National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Kim Man-bok did not attend the security policy coordination meeting held at the end of last month.

The meeting is held every Thursday in Cheong Wa Dae to go over current diplomatic and security issues. There are nine regular members including Unification Minister, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister, Defense Minister, NIS Director, President’s Chief of Staff and Chief Presidential Secretary for the Unification, Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

When Kim did not appear in a meeting held by the parliamentary intelligence committee on Jan. 30, presidential spokesperson Cheon Ho-seon said, “Kim seems to be dedicated to his work.” However, it has been proven otherwise through Kim’s absence in the security policy coordination meeting.

Kim also did not make an appearance in a meeting held between President Roh Moo-hyun and some 280 former and current national affairs committee members on Feb. 1 in Cheong Wa Dae to report on the progress of national tasks.

A top government official said, “After Kim expressed his wish to resign after admitting that he leaked the details of his secret conversation with his North Korean counterpart, I have not seen a trace of him in official events.”

It has been reported that although Kim shows up in his office at the NIS everyday, the internal reporting hierarchy is no longer in function. An official at the NIS said, “With the launch of the new government only a few days away and the director no longer in action, the NIS has been going through a rough ride.”

jin0619@donga.com