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South Korea to continue intelligence-sharing pact with Japan | South Korea to continue intelligence-sharing pact with Japan |
(about 3 hours later) | |
South Korea says it is to continue a military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan that had been threatened by a long-running dispute. | South Korea says it is to continue a military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan that had been threatened by a long-running dispute. |
The move was welcomed by the US which had urged the two countries to settle their differences. | The move was welcomed by the US which had urged the two countries to settle their differences. |
Seoul announced its decision on Friday, just hours before the pact was due to expire. | Seoul announced its decision on Friday, just hours before the pact was due to expire. |
Tensions between South Korea and Japan go back decades but have recently led to a series of tit-for-tat measures. | Tensions between South Korea and Japan go back decades but have recently led to a series of tit-for-tat measures. |
The tensions have historical roots, and the two countries became embroiled in a deepening trade and diplomatic dispute this year. | |
The intelligence pact, known as GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement), allowed the two countries to share information about North Korea's military and nuclear activities directly with each other. | |
Without it, information would have had to go through their joint-allies in Washington, slowing the process down. | |
What has been announced? | |
In August, South Korea announced it would terminate the intelligence-sharing agreement and Japan removed South Korea's favoured trade partner status and imposed export controls on its electronics sector. | |
Earlier this month the leaders of the two countries briefly met at a summit in Bangkok, Thailand, to try to resolve their differences. | |
Then on Friday South Korea said it would "conditionally" suspend the expiry, with national security official Kim You-geun confirmed that the GSOMIA would not be allowed to lapse at midnight. | |
He said the Japanese government had "expressed their understanding" but warned that the agreement could still "be terminated at any time". | He said the Japanese government had "expressed their understanding" but warned that the agreement could still "be terminated at any time". |
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said bilateral relations were vital and that South Korea had made a "strategic decision" in sticking with the accord. | Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said bilateral relations were vital and that South Korea had made a "strategic decision" in sticking with the accord. |
A US State Department spokeswoman welcomed the decision, saying: "This decision sends a positive message that like-minded allies can work through bilateral disputes." | A US State Department spokeswoman welcomed the decision, saying: "This decision sends a positive message that like-minded allies can work through bilateral disputes." |
What's the background? | What's the background? |
The two countries share a complicated history. They have fought on and off since at least the 7th Century, and Japan has repeatedly tried to invade the peninsula since then. | The two countries share a complicated history. They have fought on and off since at least the 7th Century, and Japan has repeatedly tried to invade the peninsula since then. |
In 1910, it annexed Korea, turning the territory into a colony. Resentment over this period, when many South Korean workers were forced to work for Japanese firms, continues today. | |
The issue was recently brought to the fore by a 2018 South Korean supreme court ruling that ordered Japanese firms to compensate Koreans it used as forced labour. | |
The decisions drew condemnation from Japan, which argues the dispute was settled in 1965 when diplomatic ties were normalised between the neighbouring countries. | |
The row has since escalated and has impacted their modern trade relationship, threatening industries such as technology. | |
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