The recent indictment and arrest of Sue Mi Terry, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, for allegedly working for the South Korean government without reporting to the U.S. government, has sparked significant controversy and speculation about potential implications within the State Department. /News1

Amid the indictment and arrest of Sue Mi Terry, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and an expert on Korean affairs, by federal prosecutors for working for the South Korean government without reporting to the U.S. government, there are speculations about its implications.

Some believe that the recent resignation of Jung Pak, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State who oversees Korean Peninsula policy at the State Department, may be related to this investigation.

Terry is accused of providing confidential U.S. information to the South Korean government in exchange for expensive bags, clothing, and large sums of cash over approximately 10 years. If these allegations are true, the investigation could lead to significant repercussions and controversy due to the resulting vacuum in the U.S. government’s North Korea policy control tower.

Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jung Pak. /Yonhap News

The federal prosecutor’s indictment states that on Apr. 16, 2021, Terry had dinner with a National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent in Washington, D.C., during which they discussed her close relationship with a high-ranking State Department official responsible for Korean affairs. Terry allegedly described the official’s previous roles in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Intelligence Council (NIC).

While the indictment does not explicitly name former Deputy Assistant Secretary Jung Pak, the described background of the high-ranking official closely matches Jung Pak’s profile.

Jung Pak previously served as the Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Korea at the NIC under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and as the Head of the CIA’s East Asia and Pacific Mission Center.

In January 2021, she was appointed as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, overseeing matters related to Korea.

However, she abruptly resigned on Jul. 5. Although neither he nor the State Department explained the reason for her resignation, there were speculations within diplomatic circles that it was unusual for her to resign suddenly without any specific reason. Some have suggested that Jung Pak might have resigned to take responsibility for the unofficial remarks of the State Department head being leaked.