Japan in military pact with South Korea
Japan and South Korea have agreed to share intelligence in their first joint military pact since the Second World War.
Japan’s cabinet approved the pact today.
It will allow sharing intelligence in such areas as missile defence, North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme and other regional security matters.
It has already been approved by South Korea and is to be signed in Tokyo later in the day.
The pact reflects mutual concerns that more co-operation is needed to enhance security readiness, and is seen as a breakthrough in ties between the two neighbours.
Japan ruled Korea as a colony for several decades until the end of the Second World War in 1945, and Seoul has often been wary of Japan’s post-war military development.
