CIA chief visits island near inter-Korean border

Yonhap News ^ | 2017/05/02

[TigerLikesRooster]

CIA chief visits island near inter-Korean border

SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- Mike Pompeo, director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), visited an island near the tense inter-Korean border during his visit to the peninsula this week, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) announced Tuesday.

He traveled to Yeonpyeong Island to view the contested waters between the two Koreas and "gain a first-hand appreciation of the North Korean threat to South Korea at this past and potential flashpoint," it said.

The island came under an artillery attack from North Korea in 2010, in which two South Korean marines and two civilians were killed.

Pompeo, a former politician and cavalry officer, was accompanied by Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, commander of the USFK, Gen. Leem Ho-young, deputy commander South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Embassy Seoul Chargé d'Affaires Marc Knapper.

"Director Pompeo also conducted detailed security discussions with his South Korean counterpart, National Intelligence Service Director Lee Byeong-ho" during his three-day visit from Saturday, according to the USFK.

He is the highest-ranking American official to travel to Seoul since Vice President Mike Pence's trip last month.

Weeks ago, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis also made separate trips to Seoul in an apparent show of the Trump government's commitment to the alliance.

[TigerLikesRooster]

So Pompeo personally wanted to see how well N. Korea's vaunted array of artillery and rockets actually work.

[WKUHilltopper]

Why not hook up a Twinkie to fishing line. Cast it over the border and wait for Kim Fat Ass to bite? Can just reel him on over then.

[TigerLikesRooster]

YONGSAN GARRISON, Republic of Korea (ROK) – Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Mike Pompeo (center) observes damage from a lethal artillery and rocket attack on Yeonpyeong Island by North Korea in November 2010. General Vincent K. Brooks and General Leem Ho Young, commander and deputy commander, respectively, of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, accompanied Director Pompeo during to this past and potential flashpoint. The CIA director’s visit marks the fourth senior U.S. administration official to visit the ROK this year to gain a deeper perspective of the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and confirm the U.S. commitment to the ROK-US Alliance. (Photo by Courtesy Photo)

[OldGuard1]

When the DPRK attacked Yeonpyeong, half of their shells didn’t even hit the island. Of those that hit, their locations suggested that they had outdated maps of the island. And 25% didn’t even explode.

[caww]

Interesting development....pays to see where people are going, visit, and with whom.

Tiger..I have a question for you...what do you know about defector ‘Thae Yong-ho’ who defected last year...and one of the top Officials of Kims as an Ambassador as well as serving other areas under Kim.

I ask because I’ve been watching a series of Interviews with him that gives a broad understanding of N.Korea and how it operates etc....but I do wonder if he isn’t interested in whatever Governance might be in N.Korea once the regime is no longer Kims?

[TigerLikesRooster]

I think he wants to be a main political player in post-Kim era. I suspect that he was very active in setting up a kind of N. Korean government-in-exile until Kim Jong-nam was assassinated. Defectors usually keeps a low profile right after their defection. In contrast, Thae was everywhere promoting himself.

[caww]

Thanks for your opinion.....I tend to think so too just in how he speaks about N.Korea....he’s firm about the fact the Kim Regime has to go. He lives in S. Korea and I tend to believe he jumped ship after getting a taste of freedom as an Ambassador in the Uk representing N.Korea.......he even alluded to that...especially when his sons began questioning him.

His defection cost the life of his sister and brother and their families. Said because of this it’s all the more significant his life makes a difference now he has his freedom...so he has been working with the S.Korean authorities .

Thank you for your opinion..it mattered.