S. Korea's military intel-sharing pact with Japan set to expire midnight Saturday

지소미아 오늘 자정 종료 예정... 韓日 NSC 개최

In just 12 hours from now,... GSOMIA, the joint military intelligence sharing pact between South Korea and Japan will be terminated.
With both sides unchanged in their stance over the matter,... chances for a last-minute breakthrough remain dim.
Kim Min-ji reports.
South Korea's military intel-sharing pact with Japan, GSOMIA, appears on course to expire at the stroke of midnight.
Since Seoul revealed its decision to withdraw in August,... diplomatic efforts have been made on various levels,... but they've only served to reaffirm that both sides are burrowed into their positions.
South Korea's decision came after Japan imposed tougher export restrictions on Seoul... citing a breach of trust on security issues.
Seoul sees it as retaliation for a Supreme Court ruling this year ordering Japanese companies to compensate South Korean victims of its wartime forced labor.
South Korea maintains that any reconsideration can only take place if Japan changes course.
The pact was inked in November 2016.
South Korea convened a meeting of its National Security Council on Thursday... where it reaffirmed that the pact cannot be extended unless Japan lifts its trade restrictions.
But it kept the door open for dialogue... saying it will continue to work closely with relevant parties to try and resolve the issue.
Japan's National Security Council met on the same day but only to point the finger at Seoul.
It claimed South Korea hasn't looked at the security situation properly.... urging Seoul to act wisely.
Japan has been saying that export restrictions,... GSOMIA,... and historical issues are different matters that need to be dealt with separately.
The U.S. has also been pressuring Seoul to retract its decision,... saying the pact's termination will only benefit North Korea and China.
However, South Korea plans to make use of the Trilateral Information Sharing Arrangement which includes the U.S. as an intermediary as it did before GSOMIA was signed.
With the clock ticking,... focus is on the G20 foreign ministers' meeting which kicks off in Japan on Friday,... as it will bring together top officials from the U.S. and Japan.
Although Seoul's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has yet to announce her participation,... if she does travel to Japan... it could provide a last-gasp chance to reach a breakthrough.
Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.

#military #Japan #GSOMIA

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