Seoul: Intelligence-Sharing Pact with Japan Aims to Better Cope with North Military Threats

South Korea's Defense Ministry underlined on Monday that the intelligence-sharing pact with Japan will enhance the country's ability to cope with evolving North Korean nuclear and missile threats. 
South Korea and Japan are moving to tentatively ink the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) in Tokyo, military officials said. The decision to push forward comes despite strong local objections. 
"The military information-sharing pact with Japan will help Seoul to better counter the North's provocative acts, as Japan is located adjacent to North Korea and equipped with an array of advanced information-gathering technologies," Defense Minister Han Min-koo told reporters. 
In particular, Japan is well prepared not only with means to collect data on any provocative moves by the North but also to check its advanced nuclear and satellite technologies, Han said. 
The scheduled bilateral pact comes as those against the deal claim the agreement is being arranged too hastily and in secret. They argue that it is inappropriate to ink the deal, given Japan has not sincerely apologized for its wartime atrocities while moving to expand its military role overseas. 
The opposition parties said they will impeach the defense minister if the ministry signs the deal without seeking more public understanding.

Source: QNA