What happens when GSOMIA expires? Nov 22 16:25
Japan-Korea military information comprehensive protection agreement = GSOMIA was concluded in November 2016, three years ago when North Korea repeatedly launched ballistic missiles. What will happen if GSOMIA expires?
Since GSOMIA exchanges highly confidential military information such as signs of ballistic missile launches between the two countries, it has established a mechanism to appropriately protect information and limits the number of people who can handle information without permission. This includes things that are not offered to third countries.
It is not clear what kind of information is exchanged based on the agreement, but it seems that it shared information on ballistic missiles in North Korea.
South Korea, which is geographically close to the launch site of North Korea, can collect more information on missile launches, such as specific launch points, by radar deployed on the ground, while geographically close to the point of missile fall In Japan, it is said that the information such as the point of fall can be accurately grasped by the Aegis ship of the Self-Defense Forces, and it is said that if both information are combined, more accurate information on the range and trajectory of the missile can be obtained. .
The agreement is an agreement that is automatically extended every year unless either Japan or Korea notifies the cancellation, and if it is to be canceled, it must be notified through the diplomatic route 90 days in advance. It has become.
Japan and South Korea's GSOMIA was automatically extended last year, but in August the Korean government decided to abandon it and notified the Japanese government.
Impact of GSOMIA expiration
If GSOMIA expires, information sharing on military information between Japan and South Korea will likely be carried out in accordance with agreements between defense authorities concluded between the three countries, including the US and Japan.
This arrangement was signed between the three countries in December 2014, when North Korea launched a series of ballistic missiles.
Information to be shared is limited to North Korea's nuclear and missile information, and North Korean internal information by North Korean defectors cannot be shared.
Also, according to this agreement, information cannot be exchanged directly between Japan and Korea, and information can only be shared via the United States. For this reason, Japan and Korea are said to take time to receive information from the other party.
The Korean government stresses that even if GSOMIA expires, there will be no major impact because there is an agreement between the three countries, Japan, the US, and Korea. In addition to this, it points out that the quality of information may be reduced and the response to North Korea may be affected.