South Korea on Friday made a last-minute decision to stick with its critical intelligence-sharing deal with Japan, a dramatic reversal after months of frigid relations complicated by painful, wartime history, reports Reuters.

The decision, announced by South Korea’s presidential Blue House, was welcomed by Washington. The United States has pressured its two Asian allies to set aside their feud and maintain the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), seen as linchpin of trilateral security cooperation.

“This decision sends a positive message that like-minded allies can work through bilateral disputes,” a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department said.