ROK's choice has manifold implications

The Republic of Korea and Japan were scheduled to sign the General Security of Military Information Agreement on June 29, but the ROK decided to hold off signing it at the last minute because of public pressure and questions about what and how much the ROK will actually benefit from military intelligence exchanges with Japan.

Many people in the ROK opposed the move because of unresolved issues arising from Japan's colonization of Korea from 1910 to the end of World War II, such as territorial disputes and the Korean women forced into sex slavery during World War II. Many people in the ROK were also alarmed by the report submitted to Yoshihiko Noda, the Japanese prime minister, by a sub-committee of the Council on National Strategy and Policy that called for a reinterpretation of Article 9 of the country's constitution - the so-called no-war clause - so the country can exercise the right to collective self-defense.

The Republic of Korea will not reach a decision until the National Assembly has discussed the issue, but the agreement already has different strategic implications for the United States, Japan and the ROK.