All Thursday papers reported that Japan and South Korea signed a bilateral general security of military information agreement (GSOMIA) in Seoul on Wednesday, quoting Foreign Minister Kishida as saying: “This is very significant because it is expected to allow the two countries to exchange security information more smoothly and swiftly.” According to Yomiuri, a GOJ source welcomed the pact by saying: “The accord has completed the establishment of a triangular relationship in which the U.S., Japan, and South Korea can share military intelligence.” The U.S. is pleased with the agreement because it will expand bilateral missile defense cooperation between Tokyo and Washington to include Seoul.

Under the accord, the scope of intelligence to be shared between Tokyo and Seoul will be expanded greatly, including human intelligence on the DPRK collected by South Korean operatives. South Korea expects to receive Japanese intelligence on DPRK submarines collected by spy satellites. Although Japan is hoping to obtain information to support operations for noncombatant evacuation and logistical support for the U.S. military in the event of a contingency on the Korean Peninsula, an SDF official projected that South Korea will only provide Japan with intelligence on North Korea because the two countries “have different views toward China and Russia.”