Voices are rising within South Korea for the cancellation of the General Security of Military Information Agreement signed with Japan.
They want the deal scrapped in light of Tokyo's trade curbs on Seoul.
However, the Japanese government hopes South Korea sticks with the pact, which has been automatically renewed every year since it was established in 2016.
Kim Hyo-sun reports.
Amid the continued trade spat between Seoul and Tokyo,... there are increasing calls within South Korea demanding the government scrap the 2016 agreement, which ensures the two governments work hand-in-hand to protect classified military information.
This option to scrap the deal was raised during President Moon Jae-in's meeting with the leaders of the nation's five political parties in mid-July.

"The government must seriously review nullifying the General Security of Military Information Agreement with Japan. We must question how Tokyo can provide us with military information when it opposes security cooperation with us."

Seoul's National Security Advisor Chung Eui-yong said the agreement should be kept,... but added Seoul can be flexible depending on the circumstances.
The Japanese government, however, hopes to keep the agreement.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga stressed Monday that the neighbors should continue cooperation on necessary areas,... despite their rocky bilateral relations.

"The agreement has been automatically extended every year since its inception based on that it strengthens cooperation and collaboration in the security areas of both countries and that it contributes to regional peace and stability."

The agreement can be terminated if either party notifies the other of its intention to cancel at least 90 days before the end of each one-year period, which is every November.
The deadline to issue a notification to terminate is August 23rd.
As Japan is scheduled to remove South Korea from its "whitelist" of countries that enjoy preferential treatment in trade on August 2nd,... Tokyo's decision is likely to affect the fate of the classified military information-sharing agreement.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.