The nominee to be South Korea’s spymaster said Thursday he will strengthen the agency’s intelligence gathering capabilities over key threats to the national security, such as North Korea’s provocations.

Cho Tae-yong, who was tapped to lead the National Intelligence Service (NIS), made the remark at a parliamentary confirming hearing, amid heightened tensions caused by North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.

“The agency plans to boost its capability to collect and judge intelligence over threats to the national security, such as signs of North Korea’s military provocations and growing ties between Russia and the North,” Cho said.

He also vowed stronger cooperation in sharing intelligence between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo, and efforts to deter North Korea’s illegal cyber activities aimed at financing its nuclear and missile development programs.

North Korea is widely expected to carry out military provocations or stage cyberattacks ahead of South Korea’s parliamentary elections in April and the U.S. p
residential election in November.

Earlier this week, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called South Korea the country’s “principal enemy” and threatened to “annihilate” the South if it attempts to use force against the North.

Last month, President Yoon Suk Yeol named Cho, then the national security adviser, as the NIS chief.

Source: Yonhap News Agency