Reaffirming the importance of the General Security of Military Information Agreement between the Republic of Korea and Japan, and for other purposes.

Reaffirming the importance of the General Security of Military Information Agreement between the Republic of Korea and Japan, and for other purposes. Whereas the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) between the Republic of Korea and Japan is crucial to safeguarding United States and allied interests in Northeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region; Whereas bilateral information sharing between the Governments of the Republic of Korea and Japan is critical to increasing trust and growing cooperation that advances shared defense and security interests; Whereas the Governments and people of Japan and the Republic of Korea have made significant contributions to advancing our shared defense partnership and promoting trilateral cooperation; Whereas defense cooperation among the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea serves as a deterrent against aggression from adversaries and external security threats as well as against new and non-traditional challenges; Whereas the suspension of GSOMIA directly harms United States national security at a time when the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is engaging in an increased level of provocations, including 12 tests of over 20 ballistic missiles this year, including new types of nuclear-capable land and sea-launched ballistic missiles; Whereas the Governments of the People's Republic of China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and the Russian Federation are seeking to capitalize on friction between the Republic of Korea and Japan, and the resulting strain on trilateral cooperation and on our bilateral alliances; Whereas the Government and people of the United States value the partnership of Japan and the Republic of Korea in upholding regional security and prosperity, including by safeguarding maritime security and freedom of navigation, promoting investment and commerce, advocating for the rule of law, and opposing the use of intimidation and force in the Indo-Pacific; and Whereas strengthening intelligence sharing is fundamental to the future of trilateral cooperation, and to enabling the Governments of the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to face the challenges posed by the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Koreas destabilizing actions, the People's Republic of China, and other emerging security threats: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate (1) reaffirms the importance of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) between the Republic of Korea and Japan as a crucial military intelligence-sharing agreement foundational to Indo-Pacific security and defense, and specifically to countering nuclear and missile threats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; (2) underscores the vital role of the alliances between the United States and Japan and the United States and the Republic of Korea in promoting peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific region; (3) highlights that friction between the Republic of Korea and Japan only fractures the region and empowers its agitators; (4) urges the Republic of Korea to consider how to best address potential measures that may undermine regional security cooperation; (5) encourages the Governments of Japan and the Republic of Korea to take steps to rebuild trust and address the sources of bilateral friction, insulate important defense and security ties from other bilateral challenges, and pursue cooperation on shared interests, such as a denuclearized Korean peninsula, market-based trade and commerce, and a stable Indo-Pacific region; and (6) commits to strengthening and deepening diplomatic, economic, security, and people-to-people ties between and among the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

Summary: This resolution (1) reaffirms the importance of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) between South Korea and Japan; (2) encourages South Korea and Japan to rebuild trust and pursue cooperation on mutual interests; and (3) expresses support for strengthened alliances between the United States, South Korea, and Japan. (The GSOMIA is an agreement that allows Japan and South Korea to directly share military intelligence with one another.)