The National Intelligence Service (NIS) made the assessment during a closed-door meeting of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, according to lawmakers Yoon Kun-young of the ruling Democratic Party and Yoo Young-ha of the People Power Party.
“We should view a U.S.-North Korea summit as possible at any time,” Yoon quoted the NIS as saying.
The agency said it had not confirmed any concrete contact between Washington and Pyongyang but had seen “signs of dialogue.”
The assessment comes as Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in meeting Kim again and emphasized his personal relationship with the North Korean leader.
Asked about President Lee Jae Myung’s proposal in his Aug. 15 Liberation Day speech for talks among the parties concerned to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War, the NIS said it had no contacts with North Korea related to the proposal, according to Yoon.
The intelligence agency also told lawmakers that it had obtained and was analyzing internal documents from North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party as well as missile design documents.
Separately, the NIS said North Korea has expanded its Reconnaissance General Bureau, the country’s main military intelligence organization, to strengthen counterintelligence capabilities and better process operational intelligence from the war in Ukraine.
The agency said Ri Chang-ho, head of the bureau, has been given an additional role related to handling intelligence gathered from North Korea’s overseas military operations.
Ri, a colonel general equivalent to a three-star general in South Korea, was seen leading a contingent of overseas-deployed troops during a military parade marking the ninth congress of the Workers’ Party in February.
AJP Takeaways
· South Korea’s NIS says a Trump-Kim summit could happen at any time, citing signs of renewed U.S.-North Korea dialogue.
· The spy agency says it has not confirmed direct contact between Washington and Pyongyang but sees indications that talks may be possible.
· The NIS also says North Korea is strengthening counterintelligence and expanding its military intelligence structure amid lessons from the war in Ukraine.
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