Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication Yoon Do Han on Nov. 25 said, "This is the only truth" in denying an announcement by the Japanese government and media on Korea's decision to conditionally suspend the termination of a bilateral military information-sharing pact. This photo was taken on April 1 during a media briefing at Chunchugwan Press Center of Cheong Wa Dae. (Yonhap News)

By Kim Eun-young and Yoon Sojung

Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication Yoon Do Han on Nov. 25 denied an announcement by the Japanese government and media on Korea's suspension of the termination of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), a bilateral accord on sharing military intelligence.

On Nov. 24, National Security Council Director Chung Eui-yong said Seoul filed a formal complaint with Tokyo and that the Japanese Foreign Ministry issued an apology for making an "untrue" announcement on Korea's conditional halt to the GSOMIA's termination. The Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun, however, quoted a Japanese ministry official as saying said Chung's remarks were untrue.

In a written statement, Yoon said, "This is the only truth," adding, "Once again, we would like to make it clear that we did complain to Japan and that the Japanese side made an apology."

On Chung's comments, the secretary said, "Nobody from the Japanese government has told our side something different from the truth or that no apology was made."

eykim86@korea.kr