Defense minister denies reports USFK commander protested over alleged leak of U.S. intel on N.K. nuke facility

SEOUL, April 22 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Wednesday denied recent media reports that the top commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) lodged a protest over the unification minister's public disclosure of classified U.S. information about a hidden North Korean nuclear facility.

Speaking before lawmakers at a parliamentary session, Ahn dismissed speculation that the U.S. is scaling back its intelligence-sharing with Seoul on North Korea in protest of the alleged leak.

"That is not true at all," Ahn said, responding to a question by Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the People Power Party. "It would be inappropriate in light of South Korea-U.S. military diplomacy for the USFK commander to have lodged protest with South Korea's defense minister."

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young has come under fire after he referred to the North's Kusong region as one of the locations home to its uranium enrichment facilities in a parliamentary session last month.

Local media have reported that USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson protested to Ahn over Chung's remarks, a claim that has also been echoed by a main opposition lawmaker.

Ahn said he had talked with Brunson since Chung made those remarks in early March, but the discussions did not specifically address the issue.

"We did talk about broad matters," he said.

When asked how he views Chung's remarks, Ahn said he did not see them as problematic.

"While the unification and defense ministers may have differing positions and thoughts, I believe we should present a unified voice," he said. "From an outside perspective, I don't think this constitutes a big problem."

Ahn also said the government sees no limitations in U.S. intelligence-sharing with Seoul regarding North Korea.

"There have been no limitations in intelligence-sharing," he said.

However, he declined to provide details when asked by a lawmaker about the possibility of the U.S. restricting the information-sharing going forward.

"I am limited in commenting on any plans," he said, adding that the allies did share information in real time following the North's recent missile launches.

elly@yna.co.kr(END)