The Korea Herald

피터빈트

Top diplomats from S. Korea, Japan to discuss N.K. nuke issue

By 두루미

Published : Sept. 16, 2016 - 14:10

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The top diplomats of South Korea and Japan will hold a meeting later this week in New York to discuss countermeasures against North Korea's recent nuclear test, Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday.

The bilateral meeting between South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida will be held Sunday (local time) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session, the ministry said.

The two diplomats will discuss the current agenda items of the UN Security Council, and other comprehensive and strong measures against the North, it said. 

Foreign Minister Yoon Byung-se addresses the 8th trilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24. (Yonhap) Foreign Minister Yoon Byung-se addresses the 8th trilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24. (Yonhap)

Last week, the North conducted its fifth nuclear test in defiance of stepped-up warnings by the international community to halt its military provocations. 

The two sides are also expected to discuss the issue of forging the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), a military intelligence sharing pact.

The long protracted issue was discussed during the summit meeting between President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Vientiane earlier this month.

South Korea and Japan came close to forging the GSOMIA in 2012, but the final signing was aborted amid public protests in South Korea. Protestors then accused the South Korean government of attempting to sign the militarily sensitive deal with the former colonial ruler in a clandestine manner. 

Since then, Japan has repeatedly proposed the agreement with South Korea on the occasions of high-level talks. (Yonhap)