South Korea and Japan are gearing up to endorse their first military agreement despite growing controversy over the closed-door decision.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Byung-jae said during a press conference on Thursday that the two nations will sign the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) as soon as Japan finalizes its domestic procedures to approve the pact. As South Korea’s Cabinet has already approved the pact on Tuesday and is waiting for Japan’s Cabinet endorsement, Cho speculated that the agreement could be signed on Friday.

The conclusion of the bilateral GSOMIA will be made between South Korea's ambassador to Japan, Shin Kak-soo, and Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba.

Meanwhile, regarding a military logistics accord called the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement between the two nations, Cho said the government still needs more time to review the deal despite the Defense Ministry’s call for its necessity.