Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Direct mutual sharing of North Korean nuclear and missile information

A framework to establish information sharing and management practices
Exchange information of the same level after a thorough review
Strictly cope with Japan when its insisting on the ownership of Dokdo

Korea and Japan entered the 'Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement' on November 23, making headway to the direct sharing of North Korean nuclear and missile information and other major threats in Northeast Asia.

On the same day, as the representatives of each country, Minister of National Defense, Han Min-koo, and the Japanese Ambassador to Korea, Nagamine Yasumasa, signed the GSOMIA at the MND building in Seoul.

Defense Ministry spokesman, Moon Sang-gyun, said, "Since Korea and Japan can directly share mutual information about North Korea with this conclusion of agreement, we expect to increase surveillance of North Korea and make a great contribution to the deterrence of nuclear and missile threats and provocations. Based on today's conclusion, the Defense Minister will carry forward information sharing with Japan to help our national security.“

The signed GSOMIA is a framework for the establishment of means to exchange military information between the countries involved as well as to protect and manage the exchanged information. This agreement does not entail the unlimited provision of information between the two parties, but following the principle of reciprocity, there will be exchanges of information of the same level after a thorough review of each issue.

We have already entered the General Security of Military Information Agreement or other contracts with 32 nations, including the U.S. and Russia, and have been carrying out the conclusion of the agreement with 10 other nations, including China and Mongolia.

We first proposed the GSOMIA to Japan in 1989, but two countries could not reach a mutual understanding at that time. Since then, North Korea conducted nuclear experiments in 2006 and 2009, has already launched a long-range missile, and North Korea has become a real threat in Northeast Asia. Both Korea and Japan have taken an active position towards the GSOMIA. According to this, the agreement came to conclusion after being stopped because of procedural problems righter before the conclusion in 2012.

An MND official explained the advantages of the conclusion of the agreement: "North Korean supreme leader, Kim Jong Un, is immersing himself in the enhancement of nuclear and missile capabilities, including Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM), and North Korea can have additional nuclear experiments and missile firing at any time. Meanwhile, Japan has quantitatively and qualitatively superior surveillance and detection assets, so the sharing of information directly with proper timing and geographic propinquity would be a great help.“

Along with the statement, the MND emphasized “There are some argues that the Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement will lead to Japan’s becoming a military power, entering the Korean Peninsula of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and transferring to the regional Missile Defense (MD) system. We clearly specify this conclusion of the agreement cannot be any grounds or excuses for such claims or concerns. Also, the MND continued "If Japan claims the ownership of Dokdo or distorted history, we will strictly cope with that problems, and carry forward it in a way that is helpful for our national security, giving attention not to happen any concerned situations."

By Chul-Hwan, Kim < droid001@dema.mil.kr >
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