South Korean officials have reportedly agreed to route sensitive communications between the nation and the US away from equipment supplied by Huawei, in response to pressure from US officials.
US representatives have over the past several months raised concerns that Huawei equipment could be used to eavesdrop on US-Korean communications and gain access to classified US army information, the Wall Street Journalsaid, citing inside sources.
In response, South Korea has agreed to ensure that sensitive government communications do not pass through Huawei equipment, and that Huawei equipment is not used to connect to US military bases in the nation.
While a US official confirmed the report toReuters, a South Korean foreign ministry representative said the government has no control over purchase decisions made by private companies.
US lawmakers raised eyebrows over the new year by raising security objections surrounding the decision by South Korean cellco LG U+ to award an LTE contract to Huawei.
Huawei CEO ren Zhengfei stated last year that the vendor is giving up for now on efforts to break into the US infrastructure market due to lawmakers' persisting distrust. The vendor has repeatedly insisted it does not have any ties to the Chinese military and denied its equipment can be used for state-sponsored spying.
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