S.Korea, Japan to Sign Intelligence Protection Accord

South Korea and Japan have agreed to sign an accord on sharing military intelligence.

South Korea's Cabinet was the first to approve the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with Japan in a closed-door meeting Tuesday. As soon as Japan concludes domestic procedures, the two sides will begin steps to sign the deal.

A South Korean official says the agreement covers ways of exchanging information and procedures on protecting and managing that information. It also allows sharing of intelligence on North Korea such as its nuclear and missile programs.

The official says Seoul currently has similar deals with 24 countries, including the U.S. and Russia. He also says a logistics support accord the two sides had also planned to pursue has been withheld in consideration of the anti-Japanese sentiment in Korea and other reasons.