U.S. Suspends Visa Approval for NIS Employee Assigned to the Embassy of Korea in the U.S.

The U.S. government is reported to have put on hold the issuance of visas and approval of diplomatic status for National Intelligence Service employees who were to be dispatched to the Korean Embassy in the United States. The return of an NIS attaché who completed his assignment in the United States is also being delayed, leading to speculation that this could affect the operation of intelligence and diplomatic channels between South Korea and the U.S. According to diplomatic sources, this measure is interpreted as being linked to the Coupangrelated dispute, controversy over the activities in the U.S. of a diplomat from the NIS, and trust issues between South Korea and the U.S. However, the exact background has not been confirmed, and it is not known whether the direct cause is an issue involving newly appointed personnel or existing attachés. Some observers see the possibility that visa screening was delayed as concerns raised in the U.S. Congress over alleged discrimination by the South Korean government against U.S.bound companies overlapped with concerns from U.S. intelligence authorities. While the South Korean government is monitoring the situation, attention is focused on whether visa approvals could return to normal once the return of the incumbent attaché and the appointment of successors are resolved.