South Korea's top spy makes surprise visit to US

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA

In a secret visit to Washington, intelligence chief of South Korea had met his U.S. counterpart to discuss a proposed meeting between the North Korean leader and the U.S. president.

"[South Korean] National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon secretly flew to Washington D.C. last weekend and met with CIA Director Gina Haspel to discuss the upcoming U.S.-North Korea summit," South Korean daily Chosun Ilbo reported Friday.

The details of the top spies' surprise gathering come on the heels of a scheduled meeting Friday between Kim’s right-hand man, Kim Yong-chol, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington.

Quoting diplomatic sources in Washington, the newspaper said Haspel will be among U.S. officials to meet Kim Yong-chol during the meeting with Pompeo.

The U.S. State Department has refused to share details of the reported meeting which, if successful, will set the stage for a second Trump-Kim summit in the next few months, possibly in Hanoi, Vietnam.

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA

In a secret visit to Washington, intelligence chief of South Korea had met his U.S. counterpart to discuss a proposed meeting between the North Korean leader and the U.S. president.

The details of the top spies' surprise gathering come on the heels of a scheduled meeting Friday between Kim’s right-hand man, Kim Yong-chol, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington.

Quoting diplomatic sources in Washington, the newspaper said Haspel will be among U.S. officials to meet Kim Yong-chol during the meeting with Pompeo.