U.S. Criticizes South Korea After Seoul Scraps Intelligence-Sharing Pact With Tokyo

[soryang]

U.S. Criticizes South Korea After Seoul Scraps Intelligence-Sharing Pact With Tokyo

August 30, 20194:38 AM ET
ANTHONY KUHN NPR

...Cho Byung-jae, the former chancellor of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, points out that the concern belies the nature of the alliance structure, its inherent weaknesses and how it is often misperceived.

"There is no trilateral alliance," he says. "There are two sets of bilateral alliances. You have to see the difference."

In other words, Cho says, the U.S. has alliances with South Korea and with Japan, but mistrust has kept those two from forming their own alliance. Unlike NATO, which is a collective, the relationship in Asia resembles a hub and spokes, with the U.S. the hub and its allies the spokes.

Japan and South Korea are capable of cooperation, but it's often required nudging from Washington. Case in point is the GSOMIA. The agreement "was concluded by Japan and Korea quite reluctantly," Cho notes, "but with the strong, strong backing from the Obama administration."

More at the link:

https://www.npr.org/2019/08/30/755733522/u-s-criticizes-south-korea-after-seoul-scraps-intelligence-sharing-pact-with-tok

[keithbvadu2]

1. Trump has intel sharing - it is Jared selling secrets.

Trump has intel sharing - it is Jared selling secrets.

and Trump just giving them away.