[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Regarding Foreign Minister Park Jin's statement expressing hope for the swift normalization of the Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), the Japanese government on the 14th welcomed the remark, saying it "will contribute to regional peace and stability."
According to NHK, at a regular press conference that morning, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno was asked about the Japanese government's view on Minister Park's statement. He responded, "The Korea-Japan GSOMIA strengthens cooperation and linkage in the security field between Korea and Japan," expressing this view.
Minister Matsuno said, "The response to North Korea, which is actively conducting nuclear and missile activities, has been carried out through close communication with the United States and South Korea so far," adding, "The government will do its utmost in necessary information collection, analysis, and surveillance, and for the complete denuclearization of North Korea, Japan-US and Japan-US-Korea will coordinate."
He also mentioned, "Considering the current difficult regional security environment, including North Korea's repeated ballistic missile launches, it is important that this agreement continues to be operated stably, and the government intends to share information as needed under the agreement going forward."
Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi also said at a press conference that day, "We hope both sides will communicate to ensure smoother operation of GSOMIA." Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi stated, "We recognize that it will contribute to regional peace and stability, and considering the current severe security environment, including North Korea's repeated ballistic missile launches, it is important that the agreement continues to be operated stably." He added, "We intend to appropriately share information under GSOMIA with the Korean side as needed."
South Korea notified Japan in August 2019 of its intention to terminate GSOMIA as one of the responses to Japan's export restrictions, but faced opposition from the United States and suspended the effect of the termination notice in November of the same year. Since then, the Korea-Japan GSOMIA has remained in effect but has not been actively utilized.
Earlier, on the 13th (local time), after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington D.C., Minister Park was asked at a press conference, "Do you think the U.S. can play a role in reviving information sharing between Korea and Japan?" He replied, "I hope GSOMIA will be normalized as soon as possible along with the improvement of Korea-Japan relations. It is necessary to coordinate policies and share information between Korea and Japan, as well as with the United States, to respond to the North Korean threat."
The Japanese government stated that Minister Park's first visit to Japan has not yet been confirmed. Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a regular press conference, "Nothing has been decided yet regarding (Minister Park's) visit to Japan."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
