Seoul

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday reiterated his unwillingness to maintain a military intelligence-sharing agreement with Japan unless Tokyo lifts its restrictions on exports to South Korea.

It is difficult to share military intelligence with Japan, which tightened controls on exports to South Korea over security concerns, Moon said in a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper at the presidential office in Seoul.

Moon made the comments after Esper stressed the need to keep the pact, the General Security of Military Information Agreement. South Korea plans to let the pact expire on Nov. 23.

Esper told Moon that Washington will ask Tokyo to make efforts for an amicable resolution of the issue, according to the presidential office.

At a joint press conference with South Korean National Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, Esper said the pact is an important tool for collaboration among Japan, the United States and South Korea.

Jeong said that it would be better for the agreement to be maintained, while urging Tokyo to lift the restrictions if it wants to keep the pact in place.

[Jiji Press]