Seoul, Tokyo to sign military pact

Reports on Wednesday quoted officials in Seoul as saying that the Republic of Korea will sign a military agreement with Japan as early as Friday, creating the first bilateral defense pact since Japan's occupation of the Korean Peninsula ended in 1945.

Analysts said the signing not only displays both countries' growing fears over Pyongyang's nuclear program, but also serves as a key way to beef up US-Japan-ROK trilateral collaboration.

Seoul's decision to sign the General Security of Military Information Agreement was made during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Yonhap News Agency said.