South Korea's withdrawal from an intelligence-sharing agreement with Japan is an impulsive decision that risks further destabilizing the security situation in Northeast Asia. It is especially disappointing at a time when North Korea is launching missiles and China is building up its military.
The need for the General Security of Military Information Agreement is greater than ever. Pyongyang has carried out several launches of short-range ballistic missiles and other projectiles and has improved the sophistication of its arsenal with such technology as guidance systems. Recent reports indicate that the North has developed a submarine capable of launching ballistic missiles, which could be used as a delivery system for nuclear warheads.
