Japan, US set for deal on military info: Report

Tokyo, Dec 29: Japan is set to agree to a US proposal that the two countries protect classified military information in a move to further strengthen security ties, a Japanese newspaper reported today.

The agreement, set to be finalised in the first half of next year, will allow Tokyo and Washington to share more highly confidential information and have more Japanese companies take on tasks such as repairing US navy vessels, the Asahi Shimbun said.

The scope of protected information is currently limited, with the two sides having to sign memorandums each time they exchange information on areas such as missile defence development, the newspaper said.

The United States already has similar agreements with more than 60 countries, including Britain and South Korea, the Asahi added.

Japan considers the United States its most important security ally and is host to about 50,000 of its troops.

Reuters