South Korea has threatened to end a military intelligence sharing agreement with Japan as their tensions escalate over export controls.
The agreement is a symbol of the countries’ trilateral security cooperation with their ally, the United States.
Tensions erupted after Japan tightened export controls on key materials for South Korea’s semiconductor industry and decided to downgrade South Korea’s trade status.
Seoul accuses Tokyo of weaponising trade to retaliate over political rows stemming from their wartime history.
Seoul is seen trying to pressure Washington into mediating the dispute between its allies.
Japan says it wants to keep the agreement, whose renewal deadline is coming up on Aug 24.