Cho Tae-yong, South Korea’s national security advisor, is starting a new career as the South Korean government has finalized the appointment making him new head of the country’s intelligence agency.
In a January 17 press release, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported that during the inaugural ceremony Cho stressed that he would strive to build a stronger organization and a more trustworthy agency for South Korean citizens. The release further noted Cho’s comments on the crucial tasks the intelligence agency currently confronts.
“North Korea’s ambition to advance and deploy their nuclear and missile weapons programs has become more conspicuous. In addition, festering diplomatic and national security issues, such as the strategic conflict between the United States and China, are approaching a breaking point,” explained the new director. Facing a situation where national security has become intertwined with the economy, Cho requested that officials fortify their expertise and strategic mindset to prepare for the challenges ahead.
During opening remarks at his January 11 parliamentary confirmation hearing, Cho stressed the importance of protecting the country from North Korea. The director, then-nominee, stated that North Korea’s nuclear capability, coupled with their advancing missile delivery systems, is the nation’s top security threat and must be dealt with using full force. Cho further stressed that North Korea’s illicit cyber activities, such as cyberattacks to steal technology tied to weapons of mass destruction, must be addressed preemptively.
Cho is taking over the top job as the former director, Kim Kyou-hyun, resigned from the post in November of last year. Cho is the second person to lead the country’s intelligence agency under President Yoon Suk-yeol. Before serving as the director of the NIS, Cho was the country’s national security advisor, having been nominated in March of last year. Cho has also served as the South Korean Ambassador to the U.S.
