US drops case against ex-CIA analyst accused of aiding S. Korea

U.S. prosecutors have decided to drop charges against Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA analyst who was accused of working for the South Korean government, according to the source. The charges stemmed from Terry's alleged failure to register as a foreign agent and her disclosure of U.S. government information to South Korean intelligence.

Terry, who also served on the White House National Security Council, was indicted in 2024, but a court filing on Tuesday revealed that the Justice Department has reached a deferred prosecution agreement with her. This means Terry will not face jail time, provided she adheres to several conditions for the next 12 months. These conditions include restrictions on leaving the United States and a ban on communication with the South Korean intelligence service.

Terry, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Virginia and Hawaii, was employed by the U.S. government from 2001. She has denied the accusations she faces and was originally due to go on trial later this year. Under the terms of the agreement, Terry will continue her work as a senior fellow for Korea studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.