TOKYO: Japan is thinking of signing a pact with the United States to help keep classified defence information from either country from leaking to a third party, a Japanese news report said on Sunday. Tokyo will consider signing a âgeneral security of military information agreementâ as part of a continuing effort to enhance the two countriesâ security alliance, Kyodo News agency said, quoting unidentified Japanese government sources. The pact would cover defence technology data as well as information obtained through intelligence operations, Kyodo said. It would allow the two countries to exchange more highly confidential information and promote their defence cooperation, the agency said. It said the United States already has similar pact with about 60 countries including Britain, France and other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, or NATO. Currently, Japan and the United States usually exchange memorandums each time Tokyo receives US defence technology information, Kyodo said. Japan hosts about 50,000 US military personnel, most based on the southern island of Okinawa. Calls to the Defence Agency were not immediately returned.