Countries skeptical about leaked US secrets

The Pentagon headquarters seen from above (Photo: Reuters).

Yonhap quoted South Korean Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo today, April 11, saying that the South Korean and US defense ministers had a phone call about the leak of classified Pentagon documents. Both sides shared the view that most of the leaked information was fake and untrue. The defense ministers of the two countries had a phone call this morning and the two countries shared the view that a lot of the information that was released was fabricated," Mr. Kim said.

He stressed that the United States has the best intelligence capabilities in the world and that the two allies share information in most areas. He dismissed suggestions that the leak could affect relations between Washington and Seoul.

Earlier this week, a trove of classified Pentagon documents were leaked online. They included US intelligence on the war in Ukraine and other countries. One document revealed internal discussions between US and South Korean officials in which Washington pressured Kiev to supply weapons to Ukraine.

However, Seoul said the information was edited and untrue. On the same day, the office of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol affirmed that the information that his office in Seoul was being monitored was "completely false" and that any attempt to shake the US-South Korea alliance was an act that "harms national interests".

Another document shows that last September, a Russian fighter jet nearly shot down a British RC-135 reconnaissance plane over the Black Sea. However, a British defense source confirmed that the information was inaccurate and "does not reflect what happened in international airspace."

The Bulgarian Defense Ministry also denied yesterday that it was holding talks on providing free MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine because it would reduce their defense capabilities.

Israel says it has no plans to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine if pressured. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue to provide humanitarian aid and civil defense systems to Kiev, but had "no plans to send lethal weapons".

On the Ukrainian side, Mr. Mikhail Podoliak, Advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky, said that the document was edited and aimed at sowing doubt among allies, hindering Kiev's counterattack plan.

Meanwhile, US officials continue to investigate the leak. The Pentagon has warned that the documents could pose a “serious threat” to Washington. Assessing the authenticity of the documents and their impact could take time.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/cac-nuoc-hoai-nghi-tai-lieu-mat-cua-my-bi-ro-ri-20230411201724260.htm