South Korea’s Defense Ministry said that during the phone conversation at Austin’s request, the Pentagon chief explained recent media reports on the leak and vowed to communicate closely with South Korea on the issue.
The revelation comes weeks ahead of Yoon’s meeting with US President Joe Biden in Washington on April 26.
Some lawmakers from South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party expressed “deep regret” on Monday over the alleged surveillance, calling it a clear violation of national sovereignty and a major security failure of the Yoon administration.
Kim Tae-hyo, South Korea’s deputy national security adviser, said the latest controversy would not affect South Korea’s alliance with the US, as he left for Washington ahead of Yun’s visit.
“The US is the country with the best intelligence capabilities in the world, and since (Yoon’s) inauguration, we have shared intelligence in almost every area,” Kim told reporters.