South Korea–Canada military secrets protection pact approved by State Council: "Deepening defense and defense industry cooperation"

According to The Financial News, the military information protection agreement between the governments of South Korea and Canada cleared a key hurdle at the State Council on the 27th.
The government held a State Council meeting at Cheong Wa Dae (the Blue House) that day, presided over by President Lee Jae-myung, and reviewed and approved the "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Government of Canada on the Exchange and Protection of Classified Military Information."
The agreement sets out the principles and procedures that will apply when the two countries exchange classified information.
The accord has been pursued since the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit held in Gyeongju last October. At that time, President Lee and Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney agreed to conclude the negotiations, and in a joint statement they shared the view that "a safe and reliable framework is needed to support the deepening of cooperation in defense, security, and the defense industry."
The agreement can enter into force without ratification by the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, so it is expected to take effect once the two governments complete administrative procedures such as signing. However, under Article 89 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, treaties with foreign governments, including this agreement, must still be deliberated and approved by the State Council.
At the same State Council meeting, nine draft presidential decrees and seven promulgation bills were also approved. With the amendment to the enforcement decree, the total number of local government (local autonomous entity) firefighters will increase by about 1,000, from 65,886 to 66,799. In addition, a revision to the enforcement decree of the Game Industry Promotion Act will ease the monthly payment limit for online board games such as hwatu and poker from 700,000 won to 1 million won.
The cabinet also passed amendments to laws and enforcement decrees that provide a legal basis for the state to offer fiscal support for installment savings-type financial products for junior officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs). Another revision will exempt housing built in public housing districts that include areas with dense clusters of single-room units from the price ceiling system on presale housing units.
west@fnnews.com Reporter Seong Seok-woo Reporter