A South Korean terrorist who attacked President Lee Jae-myung in January 2024 acted under the influence of far-right YouTuber Ko Seong-guk, according to the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
YouTuber’s Influence Confirmed in Presidential Attack
Intelligence officials revealed a direct connection between the assailant and extremist online content.
- The NIS confirmed the attacker, identified as Mr. Kim, was influenced by Ko Seong-guk’s online rhetoric.
- Evidence includes phone records and a confirmed visit to Ko Seong-guk’s online platform, “Goseong-guk TV.”
- The NIS is collecting evidence to take legal action against far-right YouTubers who mocked President Lee and falsely claimed the attack was staged.
- Investigations into a Cambodian scam operation linked to the death of a Korean college student have led to 424 arrests.
- North Korea’s Kim Jong-un appears to be preparing for a succession plan involving his daughter, Kim Joo-ae.
Park Seon-won of the Democratic Party of Korea and Rep. Lee Seong-kwon of the People’s Power Party disclosed the information during a joint press briefing following a closed-door meeting of the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee on February 12. The briefing detailed findings from a report presented by the NIS.
When asked about a potential prior connection between the attacker and Ko Seong-guk, the NIS stated, “It seems clear that the terrorist was influenced by Goseong-guk and an extreme right-wing YouTuber,” adding that phone records confirmed communication between the two and that the attacker had visited “Goseong-guk TV.”
The NIS also indicated it is building a case against other far-right online personalities who dismissed the attack as a fabrication. “We are collecting evidence and tracking it,” officials said in response to questioning about potential legal action.
Cambodia Scam Operation Yields Hundreds of Arrests
Turning to another case, the NIS reported significant progress in investigating the death of a Korean college student in Cambodia last October. As of February 10, a total of 390 individuals linked to a scam organization had been arrested, with an additional 34 voluntarily leaving the organization fearing apprehension, bringing the total to 424.
To prevent similar scams from spreading, the NIS is collaborating with intelligence and investigative agencies in neighboring countries, including Laos and Myanmar. Recent operations in Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand have resulted in the arrest of 101 individuals involved in romance scams and sports Toto fraud.
Kim Joo-ae’s Rising Profile Signals Succession Planning
In its report on North Korea, the NIS assessed that Kim Joo-ae, daughter of Kim Jong-un, has entered a “succession unification stage.” The agency noted her increased visibility at recent events, including Air Force Day and a visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, as well as her participation in policy discussions.
The NIS plans to closely monitor Kim Joo-ae’s role in the upcoming 9th Party Congress, paying attention to her protocol status, use of formal language, and any indications of a formal succession process within the party regulations.
“North Korea has been gradually exposing the succession structure, but since the end of last year, it has been highlighting her status as second in the protocol order,” the NIS stated. “Her role has been actively strengthened by going to the field, listening to and resolving difficulties, and directly expressing opinions on policies.”
9th Party Congress to Usher in ‘Kim Jong-un Era 2.0’
Regarding the 9th National Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, expected in mid-to-late February, the NIS anticipates Kim Jong-un will use the event to solidify his leadership and outline a new policy roadmap for building a “nuclear socialist powerhouse.” The congress is expected to mark the beginning of “Kim Jong-un Era 2.0.”
The event is likely to open on February 16, Kim Jong-un’s birthday, or after the Lunar New Year holidays, and is expected to be an internal event lasting approximately seven days without foreign delegations. Agenda items are expected to include upgrading nuclear capabilities, confirming a five-year national defense plan integrating nuclear and conventional forces, announcing a five-year economic development plan—including the construction of a canal connecting the East and West Seas—advocating for peaceful coexistence with the United States, and exploring the possibility of dialogue between North Korea and the U.S.
Concerning potential dialogue with a second Trump administration, the NIS analyzed that North Korea “will respond favorably to dialogue if conditions are met.”
The agency noted that North Korea has not taken any significant steps since the failed Trump-Kim Jong-un meeting during the Gyeongju APEC summit but believes it may be open to renewed talks if certain conditions are met. “North Korea expresses dissatisfaction with the United States every time, such as through the ROK-US fact sheet and the deployment of U.S. strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula, but it does not deny the dialogue itself with the United States and is refraining from slandering President Trump.”
The NIS assessed that North Korea is avoiding actions that could provoke President Trump, who is sensitive to intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launches, and is maintaining flexibility. “There is a possibility of seeking contact points between North Korea and the United States in the future without sending a negative message.”
Regarding inter-Korean relations, the NIS reported that North Korea is “maintaining distance” and “drawing a line on the room for improvement in relations through non-responsive behavior,” adhering to a firm “two-state” stance, including recently issuing guidelines to overseas embassies to curtail activities toward South Korea.
The NIS identified North Korea’s relationship with Russia as the core of its recent foreign policy, noting 49 high-level exchanges between the two countries last year—the highest number since Kim Jong-un assumed power. The cooperative relationship is “expanding to all fields, including the economy and culture, based on close military ties,” with North Korea considering continued cooperation even after the Russia-Ukraine war concludes.
However, the NIS cautioned that actual economic cooperation between North Korea and Russia has been limited. While the North Korea-Russia Joint Economic Committee has met for three consecutive years, progress on projects in steel and nuclear power has stalled, and discussions on acquiring advanced technologies have not yielded results. “From North Korea’s perspective, cooperation between the two countries is not meeting the expected level.”
The NIS warned that military exchanges between North Korea and Russia pose a significant threat to South Korea, citing the deployment of 10,000 North Korean combat soldiers and 1,000 construction engineers to the border region near Kursk. The agency views this deployment as a “useful military strategic card.”
The North Korean military is reportedly gaining valuable experience through Russian technical support, acquiring modern warfare tactics, battlefield data, and improving weapon system performance. Precision and accuracy of short-range ballistic missiles have reportedly increased. The NIS also expressed concern about North Korea’s accelerating development of unmanned aerial vehicles, including the establishment of a dedicated department.
Regarding North Korean prisoners of war captured in Ukraine, the NIS confirmed the desire of two prisoners to defect to South Korea, stating there are no additional prisoners. The government is making “multifaceted efforts” to facilitate their repatriation in accordance with international law.
Finally, the NIS assessed that North Korea-China relations, while initiated by Kim Jong-un’s visit to China last September, have not gained significant momentum. Trade volume between the two countries exceeded $3 billion last year—the highest in six years—but remains below pre-coronavirus levels. China continues to enforce sanctions against North Korea, and there is no evidence of substantial economic support beyond fertilizer aid.
The NIS reported that North Korea is dissatisfied with China’s approach but is attempting to mend relations by instructing overseas embassies to “attend Chinese events.”
