Defense Committee Chairman Min Hong-cheol: "GSOMIA is Still Valid... It Depends on Japan"

Min Hong-cheol, a member of the Democratic Party and chairman of the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly, stated on the 25th that regarding the Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), "It is still functioning because it operates together with the Korea-US-Japan information sharing agreement (TISA)."
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Min Hong-cheol, chairman of the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly and member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 25th that the Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) is still functioning as it operates together with the Korea-US-Japan information sharing agreement (TISA).

Min appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the same day and said, "Since our government announced on November 22 that it would suspend the termination effect after notifying the termination of GSOMIA on August 23 last year, it is effectively valid at present."

Korea and Japan signed GSOMIA on November 23, 2016, specifying that "if either party does not notify the other party of termination 90 days in advance, the agreement is automatically extended for one year." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not notify Japan of termination by the deadline on the 24th, so the general interpretation is that the agreement's effect has been extended for one year. TISA is an agreement that inserts an intermediate procedure for military information to pass through the US, considering public opposition to direct military information exchange between Korea and Japan. TISA was concluded in 2014 after the secret push to sign GSOMIA with Japan on the day of the signing ceremony during the Lee Myung-bak administration in 2012 was exposed and failed. The US, which was promoting trilateral military information sharing cooperation among Korea, the US, and Japan in East Asia, intervened. This is why information can still be shared between Korea and Japan through TISA even if GSOMIA ends.

Min explained, "Although the termination notice was given, the termination did not take effect due to suspension, so information exchange has been ongoing until now," adding, "The Ministry of National Defense cannot disclose the exact number of cases." When asked if the possibility of termination becoming a reality is almost none, he replied, "It can be interpreted that way, but the problem lies in Japan's attitude." He further said that if Japan imposes additional restrictions, "our government may take measures to realize the previously suspended termination effect."

The problem lies with the US, which considers GSOMIA an essential element of the Korea-US-Japan trilateral security cooperation. When the termination decision was announced in August last year, the US expressed "strong concern and disappointment" to Korea. In particular, the US State Department issued a statement opposing the termination, explicitly mentioning the "Moon Jae-in administration," saying, "(Korea's GSOMIA termination declaration) reflects a serious misunderstanding by the Moon Jae-in government regarding the severe security challenges we face."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.