Efforts to share military intelligence between the Republic of Korea and Switzerland have reached the final stage. The issue of “military intelligence sharing” is on the table as part of further development of military and defence industry cooperation between the two countries, according to Officials of the Korean Defence Ministry. The General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) is expected to be signed between the two countries if a memorandum is reached.

This agreement will directly provide sensitive exchange of military information between Korea and Switzerland. First, the issue involving intelligence exchanges between Japan and the Republic of Korea in the 1980s came as North Korea began conducting nuclear tests and developing ballistic missiles.

In 2016, Korea and Japan signed the GSOMIA after pressure from the United States to analyse and respond to threats from North Korea. GSOMIA was subsequently signed by countries such as France, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Switzerland will be the 23rd country to sign GSOMIA if it signs an agreement.