Seoul-Tokyo Intelligence Deal Raises Fears in South Korea

File: E0CEB068-EA0C-41DA-B324-E573CD9E8642_w250_r0_s.jpg (24KB, 250x164px) Image search: [Google]

24KB, 250x164px

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA —
A landmark Japan-South Korea military pact is drawing complaints from opponents in Seoul, who are protesting the deal and how quickly it was arranged.

Historical differences still deeply divide the two countries, and it’s unclear if a military deal will stand as a beacon of warming political ties between Korea, the former colony, and Japan, the former colonizer.

Right now, President Park Geun-hye is fighting to stay in office after being named an accomplice in a corruption scandal with elements of abuse of power and extortion. If she survives an expected impeachment attempt, analysts have said she’ll likely serve out the remainder of her term as little more than a figurehead.

Under the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), Seoul and Tokyo can now directly share some military intelligence about North Korea. The deal allows them to bypass the United States, which has played middleman with intelligence since late 2014.

Quick passage

In 2012, negative public sentiment derailed the signing of GSOMIA under former President Lee Myung-bak. But this week, the deal passed with relative ease following approval by Park and her Cabinet, less than a month after the defense ministry renewed efforts to approve it.

South Korean opposition parties have said they plan to file a motion at the end of the month to dismiss Defense Minister Han Min-koo for signing the deal with Japan.

Opponents of the GSOMIA, many of whom protested outside the Japanese Embassy and the defense ministry, say Park rammed through the deal at a time when the country is distracted by the corruption scandal surrounding her administration.

“[The scandal] basically created a huge black hole. It sucks in everything,” said Choi Jong-kyun, a professor of political science at Seoul’s Yonsei University

http://www.voanews.com/a/seoul-tokyo-intelligence-deal-raises-south-korean-fears/3611211.html