- Title: Japan, U.S., S. Korea agree to enhance military cooperation on N. Korea
- Date: 23rd May 2017
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (MAY 23, 2017) (REUTERS) JAPAN SELF-DEFENCE FORCE'S JOINT CHIEF OF STAFF, KATSUTOSHI KAWANO, SEATED IN NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPAN SELF-DEFENCE FORCE'S JOINT CHIEF OF STAFF, KATSUTOSHI KAWANO, SAYING: "I believe it's extremely important to enhance cooperation on military operations between Japan, the United States and South Korea." CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPAN SELF-DEFENCE FORCE'S JOINT CHIEF OF STAFF, KATSUTOSHI KAWANO, SAYING: "The signing on November 23 last year of the General Security of Military Information Agreement or GSOMIA between Japan and South Korea is of great significance particularly in relation to dealing with the issue of DPRK's nuclear and missile programme." JOURNALIST JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPAN SELF-DEFENCE FORCE'S JOINT CHIEF OF STAFF, KATSUTOSHI KAWANO, SAYING: "I believe we cannot clearly say so at this stage, however I also believe it's not something that we can be optimistic about." KAWANO STANDING UP AND AUDIENCE CLAPPING
- Embargoed: 6th June 2017 10:28
- Keywords: North Korea GSOMIA Military South Korea U.S. Japan Self-Defence Forece Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Reuters ID: LVA0016I26B7P
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Japan's highest-ranking military officer Self Defense Forces' Chief of Staff Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano said on Tuesday (May 23) that Japan agreed to enhance cooperation on military operations with the U.S. and South Korea in dealing with the threat from North Korea's nuclear and missile development.
The comment follow reports of a three way teleconference with his counterparts U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford and South Korean Army Gen. Lee Sun Jin earlier on Tuesday, according to Kyodo news, which added the phone call had been scheduled before Pyongyang's latest ballistic missile launch on Sunday (May 21).
Kawano also underlined the significance of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) between Japan and South Korea, a pact to share sensitive information on North Korea's missile and nuclear activities, which the two countries signed in November 2016 after South Korea postponed it in 2012 amid domestic opposition.
When asked, Kawano said he could not say for sure whether Pyongyang has the capacity to conduct nuclear attack on Japan, though added he was not optimistic about those chances, following North Korea second missile launch in a week on Sunday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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