World Council of Churches meet with South Korea PM to promote peace

The move was welcomed by the US which had urged the two countries to settle their differences.

Seoul announced its decision on Friday, just hours before the pact was due to expire.

Tensions between South Korea and Japan go back decades but have recently led to a series of tit-for-tat measures.

The tensions have historical roots, and the two countries became embroiled in a deepening trade and diplomatic dispute this year.

The intelligence pact, known as GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement), allowed the two countries to share information about North Korea’s military and nuclear activities directly with each other.

Without it, information would have had to go through their joint-allies in Washington, slowing the process down.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) met with South Korea’s Prime Minister Lee Nak-Yeon to encourage peace, conversations and discussing the churches role in Korea at the 68th General Assembly of the National Council of Churches in Korea.

WCC general secretary Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit said about the visit to Korea: “Over the decades, WCC has been privileged to accompany and support the prophetic witness of the churches of South Korea and of the NCCK in these and other contexts.”

WCC director of international affairs Peter Prove told Premier:

“I think everybody’s hope is…