South Korea is not ready to expand military ties with Japan even though cooperation between the two U.S. allies is a deterrent to North Korea, South Korea's defense minister said.

South Korea put a military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan on ice in 2012 when a public outcry among South Koreans halted its signing at the last minute. Relations have since soured further with South Korea insisting Japan do more to atone for its 35-year occupation of the peninsula and the sexual slavery of Korean women during the early 20th century.

"Strategic coordination and cooperation between South Korea and Japan is very important considering the grave security situation" on the Korean Peninsula, South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo said in a written response to questions. But talks on agreements to bolster intelligence and logistics coordination "should be approached after enough time spent on securing people's understanding and support, considering the issue of Japan's historical perceptions."