Japan, S Korea to sign intelligence pact
November 21, 2016, 10:39 am

North Korea has in recent months increased the frequency of ballistic missile testing, all believed to be capable of carrying nuclear warheads [Xinhua]

The pact, which was first introduced in 2012 before being shelved due to public opposition, is designed to thwart North Korea’s growing military strength in the region.

According to Japanese media quoting South Korean military experts, Tokyo will provide satellite imagery and intelligence about North Korea’s transporter erector launcher (TEL). In exchange, South Korea will supply Japan with highly classified information about the North’s missiles detected by long-range air search radar.

Under this accord, titled the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), Seoul and Tokyo will share intelligence on security in the region.

South Korean opposition parties, however, say they do not trust Japan – which had invaded and occupied their country during World War II.

Regional powers are also opposed to the deal.

There is general consensus that the GSOMIA will benefit the US, which has been trying to pivot its energies and focus to Asia in a bid to counter China’s growing economic and military influence in the region.

The agreement will boost US influence because of its current deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in South Korea.

Both China and Russia have also strongly criticized the US decision to deploy the THAAD weapons system in South Korea saying it will ignite a weapons race in the region.

THAAD is a response to Pyongyang’s recent ballistic missile tests, South Korea and the US say.

The deployment “doesn’t help achieve the objective of denuclearization in the peninsula, doesn’t benefit maintaining peace and stability in the peninsula. It’s going toward the opposite direction of solving the problem via dialogue and negotiation,” China’s foreign ministry has said about the weapons system.

As one of the most advanced missile defense systems in the world, THAAD can intercept and destroy ballistic missiles inside or just outside the atmosphere during their final phase of flight.

Despite claims by Washington and Seoul that the missile shield would be focused solely on North Korea, Beijing says the US deployment would pose considerable threat to neighboring countries.

“Once deployed, the system would pose a direct threat to the strategic security of China and Russia,” China’s Foreign Ministry has said.