Government Decides to Participate in Japan's Fleet Review After Considering 'Rising Sun Flag Controversy'... "Security Comes First"

'Rising Sun Flag Lookalike' Maritime Self-Defense Force Flag Controversy
'Non-Combat' Military Logistics Support Ship Dispatch to Moderate Tensions
Strong Commitment to 'Korea-US-Japan Security Cooperation'

Wanggeon Ship and Soyang Ship
[Photo by Republic of Korea Navy]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Our Navy will participate in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's 70th anniversary fleet review to be held next month in Sagami Bay, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The government's decision to send naval vessels despite the 'pro-Japanese controversy' raised by some political circles is interpreted as a strong will to improve Korea-Japan relations and a strategic move to strengthen Korea-US-Japan security cooperation against North Korea's nuclear threat.

The Ministry of National Defense announced on the 27th that, after discussions at the Standing Committee of the National Security Council (NSC), it decided to participate in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force fleet review scheduled for the 6th of next month. The Ministry explained that this decision was made after comprehensively considering past cases where our Navy participated twice in Japan-hosted international fleet reviews and international customs related to fleet reviews.

A Ministry of National Defense official said, "The multinational humanitarian joint exercise held in conjunction with this fleet review and the Western Pacific Naval Symposium attended by more than 30 naval chiefs will be a good opportunity to enhance friendly cooperation with allied navies and strengthen maritime security cooperation with neighboring countries and the international community."

He added, "Considering the severe security situation around the Korean Peninsula caused by North Korea's recent consecutive provocations, the security implications of our Navy's participation in this international fleet review were given top priority."

There was controversy in political circles over participation in the fleet review because the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force uses a flag similar to the Rising Sun Flag used by the Japanese military during the Pacific War. Nevertheless, the government's decision to participate after careful consideration is seen as emphasizing the improvement of Korea-Japan relations and security cooperation.

However, the government appears to be moderating the level by deciding to send the latest Soyang-class logistics support ship Soyang (10,000 tons) instead of a warship to this fleet review.

The Soyang is scheduled to depart from Jinhae Port on the 29th and arrive at Yokosuka Port, Japan, on the 1st of next month. After participating in the main event of the international fleet review on the 6th, it will conduct multinational joint exercises with participating countries' vessels until the 7th. The Ministry of National Defense expects that this exercise, conducted from a humanitarian perspective for search and rescue of distressed and fire-affected ships, will contribute to regional maritime security cooperation by enhancing interoperability with allied navies.

According to Japan's announcement on the 25th, the fleet review will include 18 vessels from 12 countries?United States, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Canada, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand?and five US aircraft. Japan sent invitations for the fleet review to allied navies in the Western Pacific region, including Korea, in January this year, and the government and military have been reviewing this since then.

Korea's participation in the Japan fleet review is the first in seven years since 2015 during the Park Geun-hye administration. Previously, our Navy participated in the Japan fleet review 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 eventually did not participate after our side requested to use the Japanese national flag instead of the Maritime Self-Defense Force flag.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.