South Korea, Japan in fresh spat over...>

SOUTH KOREA: South Korea, Japan in fresh spat over intelligence deal (RTRS)

- South Korea and Japan traded fresh barbs on Monday, just days after agreeing

to salvage an important intelligence-sharing pact, highlighting the fragile ties

between the former wartime foes and allies of the United States. Officials from

each side criticised or contradicted comments made by other and in media about

whether Tokyo had apologised over what Seoul said was an inaccurate weekend

statement about the agreement. Under pressure from Washington, South Korea made

a last-minute decision on Friday to conditionally maintain the pact, known as

GSOMIA, a dramatic about-face amid a months-long feud over history and trade.

GSOMIA, or the General Security of Military Information Agreement, is a key

symbol of security cooperation between the two old foes and a trilateral

partnership with the United States. Tokyo, for its part, said Seoul made a

strategic choice and it hoped to hold trade talks, though it would not

immediately restore South Korea's fast-track exporter status.

- Link: https://tinyurl.com/yx2wb3kh