한일, '지소미아 종료 절차' 놓고 해석 엇갈려
As well as the deteriorating ties between South Korea and Japan,... the two Asian neighbors have sharply different views on the termination of their intelligence-sharing pact.
Prior to being scrapped, it had been renewed automatically every year since its signing four years ago.
Kim Hyo-sun reports.
Amid the soured relationship between Seoul and Tokyo due to a string of controversial issues,... the two countries remain divided on the issue of the scrapping of the General Security of Military Information Agreement.
The South Korean government notified Japan last August that it was withdrawing from the intelligence-sharing pact, also known as GSOMIA,... in a tit-for-tat move following Japan's export restrictions against Seoul, in connection with a row over Japan's wartime forced labor.
The two governments reportedly exchanged a verbal note late last year,... following pressure from Washington to keep the agreement alive.
Seoul and Tokyo, however, have differing interpretations on the termination of the pact, which had been automatically renewed every year since it was signed in 2016.
The Japanese daily, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, explained that South Korea needs to notify Japan whether it's terminating the agreement by August 24th.
It also explained that the two parties can terminate or withdraw either by complying with the provisions of the treaty or by consent of all parties,... citing Article 54 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
The South Korean government, however, insists the agreement can be terminated at any time.
"The South Korean government can terminate GSOMIA anytime, and the concept of renewing it annually is not effective now."
Japan has not yet given its official response to Seoul's announcement.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.
