Participating in the Japan Fleet Review for the First Time in 7 Years

First Since 2015 Under Park Geun-hye Government... Decision to Dispatch Military Support Ship

Representatives from the Gangjeong Village Navy Base Opposition Residents' Association and related parties held a joint press conference titled "Opposition to the 2018 Navy International Fleet Review and Protecting Jeju Island as an Island of Peace" on the 4th at the Seoul People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Yang Nak-gyu] Our Navy will participate in the fleet review held in Sagami Bay, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

On the 27th, a government official stated, "At the regular Standing Committee meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) this morning, it was tentatively decided that our Navy will participate in the fleet review."

Japan sent an invitation in January to allied navies in the Western Pacific region, including South Korea, to participate in the fleet review, and the government and military have been reviewing this. The fleet review will be held on the 6th of next month.

Japan sent an invitation in January to allied navies in the Western Pacific region, including South Korea, to participate in the fleet review, and the government and military have been reviewing this. Although there was controversy in the political sphere over participation due to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force using a flag almost identical to the Imperial Japanese Army's war flag (Rising Sun Flag) during the Pacific War, the government decided to participate after careful consideration.

South Korea's participation in Japan's fleet review is the first in seven years since the Park Geun-hye administration in 2015. Previously, our Navy participated in Japan's fleet reviews in 2002 and 2015, and Japan participated in our fleet reviews in 1998 and 2008. The Maritime Self-Defense Force was invited to the 2018 Jeju International Fleet Review, but ultimately did not participate after our side requested that the Japanese national flag be used instead of the Maritime Self-Defense Force flag. For this fleet review, the government is reportedly considering sending a Soyang-class logistics support ship (10,000 tons) rather than a combat ship.

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