The government reacted quickly to Japan's removal of South Korea from its "whitelist" of countries enjoying preferential treatment for exports.
It came out sternly, warning that it might not renew a military info sharing pact with Japan, citing the clear lack of trust been the two.
Part one of our special series on Japan's export curbs on South Korea: Turning adversity into opportunity - Arirang News' Kim Ji-yeon on GSOMIA and how Seoul could use the pact as a countermeasure.
With South Korea and Japan both being U.S. allies, their militaries have been sharing information under a three-year-old deal which needs to be renewed later this month.
That deal was signed in 2016, and is known as the General Security of Military Information Agreement or GSOMIA.
An official from Seoul's defense ministry said Japan has provided Seoul with data gathered by Japan's satellites... regarding North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles.
And for South Korea's part, of its three levels of classified military information, it's been disclosing levels two and three to Japan.
Presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae confirmed that it would review whether to renew GSOMIA or let it expire. Although nothing's been decided,... the top office said all options are on the table.
Deputy National Security Advisor Kim Hyun-chong... said last Friday that reconsidering GSOMIA could be part of Seoul's comprehensive countermeasures against Tokyo after it removed Seoul from the "whitelist" of countries that enjoy preferential treatment for exports.
"The government will take comprehensive response measures, including reviewing whether it's right to maintain the sharing of sensitive military information with a country that takes issue with the lack of trust and a security-related problem."
What Seoul decides to do could prompt Washington to step up its role of mediator in the trade dispute.
Washington sees GSOMIA as a key element of three-way security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan,... particularly in achieving the final, fully, verified denuclearization of North Korea... as well as undermining China's influence in Northeast Asia.
The deadline for South Korea to notify Japan whether it's terminating GSOMIA is August 24th... otherwise, it'll be automatically extended for another year.
Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News.
