22 November 2016

News Story: S.Korean cabinet endorses military intelligence pact with Japan amid public opposition

SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Tuesday endorsed a bilateral military intelligence pact with Japan at a cabinet meeting despite public and parliamentary opposition.

The pact to directly exchange military intelligence on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear and missile programs was approved at the cabinet meeting chaired by Yoo Il-ho, deputy prime minister for economic affairs.

The cabinet meeting was initially presided over by President Park Geun-hye, but the president hasn't appeared at the meeting on growing public fury over the scandal involving President Park and her longtime confidante, Choi Soon-sil.

Prosecutors identified Park as a criminal accomplice to Choi in many of criminal acts when indicting Park's decades-long friend on multiple charges including abuse of power and extortion on Sunday.

The signing ceremony of the pact, dubbed the General Security of the Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), is scheduled to be held in Seoul on Wednesday.

Read the full story at Xinhua