S Korea calls off signing military deal with Japan

South Korea announced Friday it would cancel the signing of a military pact with Japan. South Korea's (Yonhap) news agency said the two sides were scheduled to sign the South Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), in Tokyo today, after South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party urged the government to put off the signing and discuss the issue with the National Assembly. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said "With regards to the South Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), which was due to be signed at 4 p.m., (the government) decided to discuss the matter with the 19th National Assembly and then push ahead with the signing," The signing of the GSOMIA has been a controversial issue as many South Koreans still resent Japan for its brutal rule over the Korean Peninsula from 1910 through 1945. Others have denounced the pact as a de facto pardon for Japan's wartime atrocities.