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| Kim Hyun-chong, center, deputy of the presidential National Security Office, answers questions before his departure to Seoul from Dulles International Airport, Washington D.C., after holding meetings with senior White House officials, July 14. Yonhap |
By Kim Yoo-chul
A senior presidential aide denounced growing criticism that Seoul's ending of a military intelligence sharing agreement with Tokyo was an "uncoordinated action" that did not involve consultation with Washington.
Deputy National Security Office (NSO) head Kim Hyun-chong said the government had notified top U.S. officials of the decision before the announcement.
"South Korea's decision to end the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) was a result of thorough consultations with the United States. During the review process, Seoul and Washington communicated frequently about military intelligence matters. Representatives from the presidential National Security Office had a lot of consultations," Kim told reporters in a briefing at Cheong Wa Dae, Friday.
More specifically, Kim said he discussed the matter with the White House National Security Council "every day," adding that nine phone conversations were made between the top security offices of the two countries from July to August this year.
"The U.S. wanted to retain the GSOMIA. And because we don't want to see even small cracks in the military alliance between South Korea and the U.S. due to the Seoul-Tokyo trade friction, I explained to the U.S. officials about the necessity of ending the agreement. When I met senior White House officials in Washington, I stressed this point," Kim said.
The remarks were aimed at dismissing fears that the government's decision would weaken its military alliance with the U.S. and security cooperation in Northeast Asia.
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The presidential aide's comments came after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, "We are disappointed to see the decision that the South Koreans made on that information-sharing agreement."
Kim said the government will use the ending of the GSOMIA as an opportunity to level up the Seoul-Washington military alliance for progress in areas of mutual interest.
He said the impact of the termination will be short-lived and limited as the government plans to utilize the Trilateral Information Sharing Arrangement (TISA) to share sensitive information with Japan and the U.S. on potential threats posed by North Korea.
"TISA is another great way to exchange valuable information on potential threats posed by North Korea. Using TISA, the government can share classified information directly from the U.S. Because TISA is a legal agreement signed by South Korea and the U.S., and the U.S. and Japan, any information that Washington provides us is strictly protected by international law," Kim told the reporters. TISA was signed in December 2014.
The administration plans to spend more on defense Kim said, hinting at the possibility of purchasing more advanced military hardware such as cutting-edge surveillance satellites.
"Once South Korea strengthens its military readiness and capability, then this will meet Washington's expectations for more of a contribution in security cooperation. That will also further strengthen the military alliance between Seoul and Washington," he noted.
The presidential aide stressed South Korea has "never denied" the 1965 treaty that normalized diplomatic ties with Japan.
"Rather, our government has consistently adhered to the position that crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Japanese government and military were not resolved by the 1965 treaty, and thus the rights of individual victims of forced labor to claim damages remain intact. The ruling by the South Korean Supreme Court reaffirmed this position."
"The Japanese government has labeled the ruling by the Supreme Court as a violation of international law. However, this is nothing but an expression of disregard for the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers. It goes without saying that government intervention in the judiciary is simply unimaginable in a proper democracy," Kim said.
Before making the decision to withdraw from the GSOMIA, Seoul dispatched a high level envoy to Japan on two occasions in July and also attempted to engage in consultations with a high-level official within the Japanese Prime Minister's Office through the South Korean ambassador to Japan in August, but to no avail, according to the presidential aide.
"In addition, National Assembly member Park Ji-won also visited Japan from Aug. 19 to 20 as the special envoy of the National Assembly. He tried to resolve the conflict between Korea and Japan, but the result was the same."
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