Japan, S. Korea agree to discuss pacts to boost defense cooperation+

SEOUL, Jan. 10 Kyodo - Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and his South Korean counterpart Kim Kwan Jin agreed Monday to begin discussions toward signing pacts to boost cooperation between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the South Korean
military.

Their meeting in Seoul came as the two countries are looking for specific ways
to enhance defense cooperation, also together with the United States, following
incidents such as North Korea's fatal artillery attack on South Korea's
Yeonpyeong Island in November.
Kitazawa told reporters after the meeting that they agreed to start discussing
a pact for mutual supply provision between SDF troops and the South Korean
military, as well as another pact to prevent leaks of military information.
The defense minister was referring to an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing
Agreement, or ACSA, which would stipulate reciprocal provision of supplies such
as food, water and fuel plus medical services between the countries' defense
forces in conducting joint activities. Details of operations would be defined
by each country's domestic laws.
''For cooperation between Japan and South Korea in conducting international
operations, providing supplies is necessary,'' Kitazawa said.
The Japan-South Korea ACSA would entail cooperation on U.N. peacekeeping
operations, humanitarian assistance as well as search and rescue operation
drills.
But it would not include dealing with contingencies in areas surrounding Japan
due to South Korean sensitivity about cooperating with the SDF given Japan's
past colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
Japan already has ACSAs with the United States and Australia. If realized,
Japan's pact with South Korea would be its third ACSA.
South Korea also reached a similar accord with the United States. The
agreements Japan and South Korea have with the United States include provision
in the event of a contingency on the Korean Peninsula.
The other accord, a General Security of Military Information Agreement, or
GSOMIA, would prevent information leakage when sharing necessary military data
such as technology and coding information. Japan has already reached such an
accord with the United States.
Kitazawa said that deepening bilateral ties naturally leads to protecting the
confidentiality of defense data and the pact is ''simply necessary to protect
confidentiality.'' Kim was quoted by Kitazawa as saying he fully understands
Kitazawa's point.
Kitazawa and Kim also agreed to boost cooperation in security and defense
matters, and hold regular defense ministerial and vice ministerial talks once a
year alternately in Japan and South Korea.
He also asked Kim to visit Japan within the year, a Japanese official said.
Kitazawa said during their meeting, ''I hope to strengthen defense cooperation
between Japan and South Korea in the greatly fluctuating Asia-Pacific region.''
The two ministers also voiced hope for China to play a productive role in
dealing with North Korea and agreed that they absolutely cannot forgive
Pyongyang's provocative actions.
Kitazawa is scheduled to fly back to Tokyo on Tuesday.
==Kyodo