Sharing intelligence with Japan

Korea and Japan announced last week that they will reopen talks on a military information-sharing pact, known as a General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), with an aim to conclude the pact by end of the year. An intelligence-sharing accord will allow the countries to exchange sensitive information on military affairs.

Both countries had pursued the deal in 2012, but it was scrapped for various reasons, including negative public sentiment due to a long-running history row between the neighbors over Japan’s colonial rule of Korea during World War II.

It is true that there is a need for a stronger cooperative system between Korea and Japan in sharing military information to better respond to the growing nuclear and missile threats from Pyongyang.

In this context, the U.S. welcomed the restart of the negotiations. Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross said, “A potential ROK-Japan GSOMIA would strengthen cooperation between our two closest allies in Northeast Asia, particularly in light of the growing threat posed by North Korea.”

However, our government should approach the issue of sharing military intelligence with Japan carefully. It is premature to restart talks at the moment for three reasons.

First, negative public sentiment toward Japan still lingers. Many Koreans are still angry with the Korea-Japan deal on the issue of comfort women and with the way Japan has responded to other historical conflicts with Korea.

Second, the deal could potentially escalate tension with China, which has already adamantly contested Korea’s plan to introduce Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), an advanced U.S. missile defense system.

Last but not least, the government’s announcement is ill-timed because the Park Geun-hye administration is in no position to conduct any kind of significant diplomatic activity. Park’s shameful incompetence has been widely reported in the foreign media following the scandal involving her friend Choi Soon-sil, who is suspected of undue influence in key decisions of the Park administration, even in the area of diplomacy.

Many foreign embassies in Seoul are reportedly at a loss as to how to explain this bizarre situation to their home ministries. With the Park administration having lost all credibility, it is not a wise decision to pursue such an important deal with Japan. (The Korea Times)