Japanese defense ships to board South Korean warships = Improved Japan-South Korea defense cooperation, future focus is on resolving pending issues regarding the Self-Defense Force flag at the International Fleet Review

On the 7th of this month, Defense Minister Nakatani attended a welcoming event for the arrival of a South Korean naval vessel at the Yokosuka Base of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in Kanagawa Prefecture. He boarded the South Korean amphibious assault ship Marado and announced the strengthening of defense cooperation between the two countries.
This is believed to be the first time that a Japanese defense minister has been aboard a South Korean warship. Defense exchanges between Japan and South Korea have been stalled since the 2018 incident in which South Korean forces shone a radar on a Self-Defense Force aircraft, but now
In June 2019, the defense ministers agreed on measures to prevent a recurrence, and the two sides resumed bilateral exchanges. With the prospect of further active exchanges in the future, the ROK Navy is planning to hold an international fleet review in Busan, southern Japan, in May next year, in which the ROK side will be a guest.
Attention is focused on whether the South Korean side will invite the Japanese Navy and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to the international fleet review held in Jeju in the south in 2018.
However, they requested that if they participated, they refrain from flying the Rising Sun Flag, the flag of the Self-Defense Forces. In South Korea, the Rising Sun Flag is viewed as "an obvious political symbol that recalls the historical wounds of Korea, which was invaded by Japan."
Some people find the flag repulsive and unpopular. On the other hand, there is an international rule that military vessels, including those of the Self-Defense Forces, must display an "external sign" indicating their nationality. The Self-Defense Forces have stated that "For Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel, the Self-Defense Force flag is
"We are proud of it. We absolutely will not take it down (to participate)," said the then Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff, and the request from the South Korean side was not accepted, leading to the decision not to participate.
On the 6th, three ships, including the Marad, which conducted joint navigation training with the MSDF training ship "Hatakaze" off the coast of the Kii Peninsula, called at Yokosuka Base.
This is the first joint training exercise between the two Korean navies in about seven years. In December 2018, a South Korean Navy destroyer illuminated a P1 patrol aircraft of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force with a fire-control radar in the Sea of Japan off the coast of the Noto Peninsula.
As a result, defense exchanges between Japan and South Korea have stalled. However, in the midst of improving Japan-South Korea relations, the defense ministers of the two countries agreed in June this year to take measures to prevent the recurrence of this problem.
The joint training on the 6th was the first since the radar illumination incident, suggesting an improvement in relations between the defense authorities. The South Korean naval vessels that participated in the training were based at the Yokosuka base of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
The ship called at port and a welcoming ceremony was held there. Defense Minister Nakatani, who attended, said, "South Korea is a very important partner for our country. The severe security environment, including North Korea's ballistic missile launches,
"Amid these difficult times, defense cooperation between Japan and South Korea is becoming more important than ever," Nakatani said. He was on board the USS Malad during its port call. "I was able to see for myself the progress of defense cooperation and exchange between Japan and South Korea.
"It was very meaningful," he said. It was believed to be the first time that a Japanese defense minister had boarded a South Korean naval vessel. It was a way to highlight the close cooperation between Japan and South Korea in the field of security, but it is also a sign that defense cooperation between Japan and South Korea is being put to good use.
As the situation develops, attention will be focused on whether the Self-Defense Forces will participate in the international fleet review to be held by the South Korean Navy in Busan in the south next May.
During the international fleet review held in Jeju, the South Korean side invited the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement on the hoisting of the Self-Defense Forces' ensign, the Rising Sun Flag, and the MSDF withdrew from the event.
The naval review is an event where the head of state inspects his country's fleet, and is held with the aim of boosting the morale of the personnel as well as promoting international friendship and defense exchanges, with friendly countries invited to attend.
When the MSDF held an international fleet review in Sagami Bay in November 2022, the MSDF sent an invitation to South Korea in advance, but the Moon Jae-in administration at the time had not yet decided whether to participate.
The invitation could not be sent immediately. At the time, relations between Japan and South Korea were at a low ebb, and there were concerns that South Korean soldiers would salute the Rising Sun Flag, the flag of the Self-Defense Forces.
In May of the same year, the Moon administration, which had been in power at the time, was replaced by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which showed a desire to improve Japan-Korea relations, and the South Korean military, after careful consideration, announced its participation. The Navy's military support ship, the Soyang, was sent to Sagami Bay.
The crew of the Soyo saluted the Self-Defense Forces' escort ship Izumo, which was carrying then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who was visiting the area.
During the international fleet review, a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer flew the Rising Sun flag and entered the port of Busan in the south. In stark contrast to the 2018 international fleet review, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense announced that it would hold an "international
The port entry was approved on the grounds that it was in accordance with custom. In Japan, this was interpreted as South Korea's response to the Self-Defense Force flag returning to a state that complies with international rules.
The South Korean Navy is set to hold an international fleet review in Busan in May next year, with other participating nations including Japan, the United States, Australia, China, Canada, the United Kingdom and India.
Dozens of countries, including India, Indonesia and Singapore, are expected to be invited. Reporting this in August, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said, "The raising of the Self-Defense Force flag may become an issue again," while adding, "
The Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which has placed importance on ROK-US-Japan and ROK-Japan security cooperation, is likely to accept the participation of Japanese vessels flying the Self-Defense Force flag, even if a controversy arises over the Rising Sun Flag."
Meanwhile, according to a report this month by the South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo, a South Korean government source said, "We are still in the process of deciding who will be invited," and "We plan to notify the relevant countries around the end of this month, but it is unclear whether Japan will be included."
That has not yet been determined."