▲ Unification Minister Chung Dong-young responds to a reporter's question in Seoul on April 20, 2026. (Yonhap)

(2nd LD) unification minister-NK nuclear facility

(2nd LD) Unification minister regrets leak claim related to his reference to Kusong as N.K. nuclear facility site

(ATTN: ADDS Lee's comments in paras 11-13)

SEOUL, April 20 (Yonhap) -- Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Monday his referring to North Korea's Kusong region as one of the sites hosting the country's nuclear facilities was intended to explain South Korea's North Korea policy, expressing regret over allegations that the remarks constituted an information leak.

The minister made the remarks amid allegations that he disclosed sensitive intelligence on North Korea, after describing Kusong as a site hosting uranium enrichment facilities during a parliamentary session last month.

So far, only two regions -- Yongbyon and Kangson -- have been officially recognized as uranium enrichment sites in North Korea, while researchers in South Korea and abroad have at times referred to Kusong as also hosting nuclear facilities.

"I only (referred to Kusong) as part of a policy explanation meant to illustrate the seriousness of North Korea's nuclear issue. Framing it as an information leak is very regrettable," Chung told reporters.

The United States has reportedly complained about Chung's disclosure of the information, which it believes was based on intelligence shared by Washington, and has ceased sharing satellite information on North Korea with Seoul.

The unification ministry has contended that Chung's remarks were based on "open information," including expert reports and local media articles, rather than intelligence from Washington.

"It's (already) open information. I also mentioned Kusong during my confirmation hearing last year," the minister stated, dismissing allegations of an information leak. "I suspect a hidden motive behind bringing this issue up after nine months have passed."

Chung said the national interest should be the top priority in addressing this issue along with others, accusing some of falsely "spreading a scenario of a crisis in South Korea-U.S. relations" and expressing hope that Seoul and Washington would resolve the matter "through smooth communications."

Chung reaffirmed such a stance in a post updated on his personal blog, dismissing the information leak claim as "absurd."

"Since taking office as unification minister, never have I received an intelligence briefing on nuclear facilities from relevant domestic and overseas intelligence institutions," he wrote.

Later in the day, President Lee Jae Myung said the existence of a nuclear facility in Kusong had already been widely known.

"It is a clear fact that the Kusong nuclear facility had been widely known worldwide through various academic papers and media reports even before Minister Chung's remarks," Lee wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"Any claim and action based on the premise that Chung leaked classified information provided by the U.S. is unfounded," he said.

Meanwhile, the defense ministry said there are no issues in terms of military readiness posture against North Korea.

"There are no issues in South Korea-U.S. cooperation regarding the collection and sharing of North Korea-related information or in the readiness posture against North Korea," ministry spokesperson Chung Binna told Yonhap News Agency.

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