U.S. prosecutors have charged a former CIA analyst who specialized in North Korea with working as a South Korean agent in exchange for luxury goods and other gifts after leaving the agency.
Sue Mi Terry, now a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, is accused of serving as a foreign agent for more than a decade, according to an indictment filed Monday in federal court in New York. She is currently on administrative leave from CFR.
“At the direction of South Korean government officials, Terry advocated South Korea’s policy positions, including in published articles and media appearances,” the indictment reads, using South Korea’s official name. The indictment also alleges that she never registered as a foreign agent, as required by law.
In return, South Korea provided Terry with Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton handbags, a Dolce & Gabbana coat, expensive dinners, and more than $37,000 in secret funds for a public policy program she controlled focused on South Korea.
Terry did not respond to a request for comment. Terry’s attorney, Lee Wolowski, denied the allegations.
“These accusations are baseless and misrepresent the work of a scholar and news analyst known for his independence and years of service to the United States,” Wolowski said in an emailed statement. “Once the truth emerges, “The government has obviously made a major mistake.”
Terry is one of the most prominent North Korea analysts in the United States, having testified before Congress, made numerous media appearances and moderated meetings. She also served as a White House official on the National Security Council under both Republican and Democratic administrations.
When asked to comment on the indictment, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said in a statement that authorities from both countries were in close communication on the matter. The Foreign Ministry declined to comment.
