South Korea Friday postponed at the last minute the signing of a landmark military agreement with Japan, amid anger in Seoul over the planned pact with a former colonial ruler.
The information-sharing pact would have been their first military agreement since the end of Japan's brutal 1910-45 colonial rule over Korea.
It would have enabled the two sides, both of whom are close US allies, to swap intelligence about North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes and other defence issues.
Many older Koreans have bitter memories of Japan's rule. and military cooperation is a sensitive issue. Both the ruling and opposition parties in Seoul called for a delay, saying details have been kept secret.
It was the second time Seoul had postponed the deal.
Historical disputes still mar the two countries' relationship despite their close economic relations.AFP
