The South Korean government has approved an intelligence-sharing agreement with Japan, moving the pact a step closer to fruition as North Korea continues to make progress in its nuclear weapons and missile programs, a report said Tuesday.
The approval of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) was announced at a Cabinet meeting presided by Yoo Il-ho, deputy prime minister for economic affairs, the Yonhap news agency reported. The South Korean defense chief and Japanese ambassador were to officially sign the deal Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Seoul. The agreement would enter into effect immediately since it does not require parliamentary ratification.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday that Japan was working to arrange the signing date, but did not offer further comment.