US welcomes South Korea decision on military pact

The United States says it welcomes South Korea's decision to remain in its intelligence-sharing deal with Japan.

At midnight Friday, Seoul decided to "conditionally" suspend their previous move to exit the deal, known as the General Security of Military Agreement.

South Korea and Japan have agreed to return to negotiate the export controls, said Kim You-geun, deputy director of South Korea's national security office.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in may hold a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe next month, reported the South Korean news agency Yonhap.

The two sides may also focus on substantive dialogue on bilateral issues, such as compensation for wartime forced labor and resolving a trade dispute.

(Cover: Kim You-geun arrives to speak at a press briefing on the General Security of Military Agreement.)

(AFP)