Seoul rejects linking Jung Chung-rae visa issue to US alliance

South Korea's foreign ministry said on October 9 that it was inappropriate to link Jung Chung-rae's pending US visa to wider bilateral relations. The comments came amid debate over apparent friction between the allies.

The ruling Democratic Party expressed regret over a delay in issuing a US visa to its former leader. Spokesperson Park Sung-joon said Jung's application remained under review without a final decision. The lawmaker had planned to take part in a parliamentary audit of South Korean diplomatic missions.

Jung confirmed the review status on Facebook and urged restraint in remarks that could harm the alliance. A foreign ministry official said Seoul and Washington continued close cooperation on various issues, while individual visa applications were confidential.

The opposition People Power Party raised suspicions that the delay might reflect strain between the countries. That is a political suggestion, rather than a confirmed explanation from US authorities.

The debate also involves the National Intelligence Service. The agency acknowledged a day earlier that it had not attended a June meeting with US and Japanese counterparts on North Korean cyber threats. Media reports had said it was excluded at Washington's request.

On October 9, the industry ministry separately denied a report that US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had expressed distrust of the agency during investment negotiations. Yonhap reported these statements as distinct episodes in the wider debate over alliance relations.