Spying seen as complicating allies' summit

Leaked documents cast shadow over South Korean leader's Washington tour

SEOUL — Leaked intelligence documents suggesting Washington spied on Seoul have put South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in a delicate situation ahead of a state visit to the United States, the first such trip by a South Korean leader in 12 years.

The documents contain purportedly private conversations among senior South Korean officials about Ukraine, indicating that Washington may have conducted surveillance on a key Asian ally even as the two nations publicly vowed to reinforce their alliance.

Since taking office last year, Yoon has put a bolstered military partnership with the US at the heart of his foreign policy. The April 26 summit with US President Joe Biden is seen as crucial to winning a stronger US security commitment and resolving grievances over the Biden administration's economic and technology policies, The Associated Press commented.