Japan, SKorea sign 1st military pact since WWII

Japan and South Korea have agreed to share intelligence in their first joint military pact since World War II.

Japan's Cabinet approved the pact Friday. It will allow sharing intelligence in such areas as missile defense, North Korea's nuclear weapons program and other regional security matters. It has already been approved by South Korea and is to be signed in Tokyo later in the day.

The pact reflects mutual concerns that more cooperation is needed to enhance security readiness, and is seen as a breakthrough in ties between the two neighbors.

Japan ruled Korea as a colony for several decades until the end of World War II in 1945, and Seoul has often been wary of Japan's postwar military development.