WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, Seoul and Tokyo signed a General Security of Military Information Agreement that created the framework for both protection and sharing of secret military information.
"By sharing appropriate security information, they will enhance their deterrence posture against North Korean aggression and strengthen their ability to defend against continued missile launches and nuclear tests," Carter stated.
The negotiations on the pact began in 2012 but ground to a halt as the opposition parties in Japan protested against the deal.
After the two first rounds of talks reopened in November, Tokyo and Seoul reportedly agreed on a few major points, including the prohibition to supply third parties with intelligence information without each other's approval and the necessity to inform the other party if the information has been compromised in any way.