By Kim Minji

Cheong Wa Dae on June 22 criticized the memoir of former White House National Security Adviser John Bolton as inaccurate and violating a basic diplomatic principle.

"The distortion of honest and constructive consultations between the leaders of Korea and the U.S. on peace on the Korean Peninsula and the development of inter-Korean relations based on (Bolton's) own bias and prejudice constitutes inappropriate behavior without basis," said Yoon Do-han, Cheong Wa Dae's senior secretary for public communication.

The secretary was speaking at a news briefing to announce the presidential office's official stance on the matter.

The book is set for release on June 23. 

The secretary added that Cheong Wa Dae's national security director Chung Eui-yong on June 21 delivered his take on this issue to the U.S. National Security Council.

Director Chung was quoted as saying the memoir "does not reflect the exact truth" and "grossly distorts most parts of the facts."

"Unilaterally unveiling agreed content based on the mutual trust of governments is a violation of a basic principle of diplomacy, which could severely harm the credibility of future negotiations," he said. "We expect the U.S. government to take suitable measures to prevent such dangerous cases."

kimmj7725@korea.kr