Seoul declares normalization of ties with Tokyo on military information sharing

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol says Seoul and Tokyo declared at the summit meeting the complete normalization of the General Security of Military Information Agreement, or GSOMIA.

Yoon made the statement at a news conference after the summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on Thursday.

Both countries signed the agreement in 2016. But in 2019, the administration of then-President Moon Jae-in notified Japan that it was considering scrapping the accord after Tokyo tightened controls on exports to South Korea.

Yoon also said that the two leaders praised the announcement of a solution to the wartime labor issue as a foundation for the two countries to discuss future-oriented development.

Yoon touched on this year's 25th anniversary of the Japan-South Korea Joint Declaration issued by then Japanese Prime Minister Obuchi Keizo and then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung. He said that this meeting was the first step toward developing the spirit of the joint declaration and overcoming the unfortunate history between the two countries, and marks the start of a new relationship.