Seoul, trade tensions with Tokyo: Halt to military information exchange

The two countries had signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement (Gsomia) in February 2016. The exit of Seoul risks hindering US efforts for cooperation with two important allies in the region.  South Korea accuses Japan of using trade as a weapon in a dispute related to colonial rule.

Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The South Korean government this morning announced that it will not extend a bilateral agreement with Japan on the exchange of classified military information: it is Seoul's strongest reaction to the restrictions that Tokyo has imposed on some export products.  In making the decision public, the Blue House (the Presidential Office) cited a "serious change" in relations with the Land of the Rising Sun, in addition to the Japanese government's refusal to accept Seoul's repeated openings to the dialogue.  The surprising move threatens to hinder US efforts for security cooperation with two of its most important allies in the region.

In recent weeks, Japan has imposed stricter controls on exports to South Korea of ​​three essential chemicals for the production of semiconductors and display screens - key products for the South Korean economy.  Tokyo has also decided to remove Seoul from a list of countries with preferential commercial status.  South Korea accuses Japan of using trade as a weapon in a dispute related to the Japanese colonial rule of the Korean peninsula.  Tokyo denies this, claiming to have taken such measures for unspecified security reasons.

In South Korea, trade tensions have sparked anti-Japanese sentiment.  Many South Korean citizens took to the streets, canceled the planned holidays for Japan and launched the boycott of Japanese products.  The South Korean government, for its part, has decided to downgrade the commercial status of Japan.

The two countries had signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement (Gsomia) in February 2016, to "share sensitive military information".  The purpose of the agreement is to simplify the sharing of information between US allies and has allowed Seoul and Tokyo to quickly exchange reports chiefly concerning North Korea.  In light of the Seoul decision, from now on such information can only be shared through Washington, as was the case before the introduction of Gsomia.