South Korea to nix intelligence-sharing deal with Japan, alarming US military officials

[TomSea]

South Korea to nix intelligence-sharing deal with Japan, alarming US military officials
Deirdre Shesgreen, USA TODAY Published 9:12 a.m. ET Aug. 22, 2019 | Updated 6:58 p.m. ET Aug. 22, 2019

South Korea said Thursday it will end an intelligence-sharing agreement with Japan, a move that prompted immediate concern from U.S. military officials in the wake of repeated North Korean missile tests.

A Pentagon spokesman, Lt. Col. Dave Eastburn, said intelligence sharing is key to a united defense strategy in the region. The United States, South Korea and Japan are stronger and safer when they work together, he said.

"The Department of Defense expresses our strong concern and disappointment" with South Korea's decision, Eastburn said in a statement. "We strongly believe that the integrity of our mutual defense and security ties must persist despite frictions" in the South Korea-Japan relationship, he said.

Read more at: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/08/22/south-korea-end-intelligence-sharing-deal-japan/2081846001/

Diplomacy
Japan taken aback, US upset about S. Korea's GSOMIA termination


South Korean President Moon Jae-in, right, stands with U.S. President Donald Trump, center, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before the Northeast Asia Security dinner at the U.S. Consulate General Hamburg, Thursday, July 6, 2017, in Hamburg. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Japan's foreign minister said Thursday that Tokyo "strongly" protested against South Korea's decision to scrap a military intelligence-sharing pact, calling the move "extremely regrettable".

"I have to say the decision to end the pact by the South Korean government is a complete misjudgement of the current regional security environment and it is extremely regrettable," Taro Kono said in a statement.

"We cannot accept the claims by the South Korean side and we will strongly protest against the South Korean government," Kono said, adding that Tokyo had summoned the South Korean ambassador.

Read more at: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/08/120_274428.html?utm_source=push&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=japan